What happened
On a local flight intended for skydiving operations, a single-engine airplane departed from Leopoldsburg Airfield. The aircraft was occupied by one pilot and six skydivers at the time of the accident. During the initial takeoff roll, the pilot observed an abnormality in the aircraft's performance but proceeded with the takeoff attempt.
As the flight progressed, the plane struggled to climb to a safe altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck trees situated beyond the end of the runway, resulting in a crash that triggered a post-impact fire. While all seven occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage, two passengers sustained injuries during the event. The impact and subsequent flames resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary reason for the crash was the failure to clear obstacles located at the end of the runway. Although no specific mechanical failure was identified as the trigger for the inability to clear the trees, investigators noted that the pilot's decision to continue the takeoff despite noticing abnormal behavior contributed to the outcome. Additionally, the pilot's lack of extensive experience with this specific aircraft type was cited as a contributing factor.