What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot flew from wetumptka, AL (08A) to a private strip in Deatsville, AL with no problems. After about twenty minutes the pilot departed from the private strip. Prior to departure the pilot performed a run-up check with no problems noted. After reaching an altitude of 100 to 150 feet AGL the engine lost power. To avoid large trees in front the pilot turned left towards small trees. The pilot slowed the aircraft to about thirty knots. The left wing tip struck the top of a tree causing it to turn further left and settling down in an almost level attitude. The aircraft came to rest in a slight nose up attitude and about a 40 to 45 degree left bank. The aircraft was caught up in the trees with the left wing tip touching the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT FLEW FROM WETUMPTKA, AL (08A) TO A PRIVATE STRIP IN DEATSVILLE, AL WITH NO PROBLEMS. AFTER ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES THE PILOT DEPARTED FROM THE PRIVATE STRIP. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PILOT PERFORMED A RUN-UP CHECK WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. AFTER REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 100 TO 150 FEET AGL THE ENGINE LOST POWER. TO AVOID LARGE TREES IN FRONT THE PILOT TURNED LEFT TOWARDS SMALL TREES. THE PILOT SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ABOUT THIRTY KNOTS. THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE CAUSING IT TO TURN FURTHER LEFT AND SETTLING DOWN IN AN ALMOST LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A SLIGHT NOSE UP ATTITUDE AND ABOUT A 40 TO 45 DEGREE LEFT BANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE TREES WITH THE LEFT WING TIP TOUCHING THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.