What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft departed on runway 33. This is a 2600 ft grass runway. This area had received rain the day before which left the ground somewhat soft. Actual field elevation is 865', density altitude at the time of the accident was figured at approximately 2800'. The aircraft had approximately 1 hour of flight time since being filled with fuel, which used approximately 8 gal of fuel. This fuel system holds a maximum of 50 gallons. Winds at the time varied from 5 to 10 KTS out of the south (tailwind). There were three people on board with a total weight of 530 lbs. (390 lbs. In front seats, 140 lbs. In rear seat). In addition, there was approximately 20 lbs. Of cargo on board. Weight and balance for the aircraft was computed using weights and loading at the time of the accident. The figures indicate the aircraft was within 15 lbs. Of gross weight with the CG being 2" forward of the envelope. The pilot stated the aircraft "lifted off" after going over a slight rise midway down the runway, but he was unable to gain altitude and maintain airspeed as the flight proceeded (ground effect). The pilot turned the aircraft to the left to avoid impacting a tree line; the aircraft entered a stall/spin attitude and crashed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 33. THIS IS A 2600 FT GRASS RUNWAY. THIS AREA HAD RECEIVED RAIN THE DAY BEFORE WHICH LEFT THE GROUND SOMEWHAT SOFT. ACTUAL FIELD ELEVATION IS 865', DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS FIGURED AT APPROXIMATELY 2800'. THE AIRCRAFT HAD APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR OF FLIGHT TIME SINCE BEING FILLED WITH FUEL, WHICH USED APPROXIMATELY 8 GAL OF FUEL. THIS FUEL SYSTEM HOLDS A MAXIMUM OF 50 GALLONS. WINDS AT THE TIME VARIED FROM 5 TO 10 KTS OUT OF THE SOUTH (TAILWIND). THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 530 LBS. (390 LBS. IN FRONT SEATS, 140 LBS. IN REAR SEAT). IN ADDITION, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 LBS. OF CARGO ON BOARD. WEIGHT AND BALANCE FOR THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPUTED USING WEIGHTS AND LOADING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FIGURES INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN 15 LBS. OF GROSS WEIGHT WITH THE CG BEING 2" FORWARD OF THE ENVELOPE. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT "LIFTED OFF" AFTER GOING OVER A SLIGHT RISE MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALTITUDE AND MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AS THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED (GROUND EFFECT). THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT TO AVOID IMPACTING A TREE LINE; THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STALL/SPIN ATTITUDE AND CRASHED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.