What happened
During a takeoff at gross weight, the pilot of the aircraft configured the plane with flaps up and engine power at maximum. After reaching a liftoff speed between 65 and 70 mph, the aircraft ascended to an altitude of approximately two hundred feet. At this point, the pilot lowered the nose in an attempt to reach a standard climb speed of 90 to 100 mph.
However, the aircraft failed to accelerate beyond 80 mph and ceased to gain further altitude. Despite the engine remaining at full power, the airspeed dropped back down to 70 mph. Realizing there was inadequate runway left to attempt a return to the airfield, the pilot executed a shallow turn to the right toward lower ground, resulting in a hard landing in a nearby field. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Findings
Investigation into the flight dynamics suggests that the pilot allowed the aircraft to climb out of ground effect before achieving the necessary pitch attitude and airspeed for a sustained climb. This maneuver caused the aircraft to enter a region of reversed command at a low altitude. Because the engine was already at its maximum power setting, the pilot lacked the necessary resources to increase airspeed or recover the aircraft's performance before the landing occurred.