What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During takeoff from a very narrow (20 ft.) Private grass strip in Caribou, Maine, the pilot swerved off the runway. He continued his takeoff in tall grass and was able to become airborne after using 2/3 of the runway. He maintained a high angle of attack on the aircraft. This resulted in no climb performance. In this configuration, he struck a tree at the side of the runway. The impact sheared off the top 20 ft. of the tree. The aircraft then plummeted nose first into the ground. The pilot managed to crawl clear of the wreckage before rescue personnel arrived. He has compound fractures of his right ankle and multiple fractures of his left leg. His description of the accident and its cause is identical to the findings of the FAA iic. The pilot was counseled. Case closed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING TAKEOFF FROM A VERY NARROW (20 FT.) PRIVATE GRASS STRIP IN CARIBOU, MAINE, THE PILOT SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY. HE CONTINUED HIS TAKEOFF IN TALL GRASS AND WAS ABLE TO BECOME AIRBORNE AFTER USING 2/3 OF THE RUNWAY. HE MAINTAINED A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK ON THE AIRCRAFT. THIS RESULTED IN NO CLIMB PERFORMANCE. IN THIS CONFIGURATION, HE STRUCK A TREE AT THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE IMPACT SHEARED OFF THE TOP 20 FT. OF THE TREE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN PLUMMETED NOSE FIRST INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT MANAGED TO CRAWL CLEAR OF THE WRECKAGE BEFORE RESCUE PERSONNEL ARRIVED. HE HAS COMPOUND FRACTURES OF HIS RIGHT ANKLE AND MULTIPLE FRACTURES OF HIS LEFT LEG. HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT AND ITS CAUSE IS IDENTICAL TO THE FINDINGS OF THE FAA IIC. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED. CASE CLOSED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.