What happened
During a flight from Northfield toward Cleveland-Hopkins Airport, a twin engine airplane experienced a loss of control immediately following departure. The aircraft departed from a grass-surfaced runway and, shortly after lifting off, collided with the tops of nearby trees. This impact resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent crash.
The incident resulted in four injuries, with the pilot sustaining serious wounds. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several environmental and operational factors. The runway surface was noted to be muddy and soft, which significantly impacted the takeoff performance. Due to the condition of the ground, the pilot initiated the takeoff roll 690 feet before the end of the available runway area.
Contributing elements included the presence of obstacles, specifically trees standing approximately 92 feet tall located roughly 60 feet from the runway's edge. The primary factor in the accident was inadequate preflight preparation, as the pilot failed to maintain the necessary airspeed during the initial climb phase and did not utilize the full length of the available runway.