What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was taxied up and down the runway several time as the pilot became familiar with the aircraft and controls. Wind was calm. Full power run up accomplished and no problems found. The pilot proceeds to depart runway number 1. The aircraft lifted off and stabilized in ground effects at 65 indicated. The pilot pitched nose up and airspeed fail off to 55 indicated. The pilot pitched back to nose level and built up airspeed back to 65 and pitched up again. Once again airspeed fail off to 55 indicated. Never could get aircraft to accelerate past 65 indicated. No excessive control inputs were required. At this point the pilot decided and there wasn't enough runway left to land and he was not going to clear the trees either. He proceeded to pick a place where to put it into the trees. The aircraft sustained severe firewall damage, engine bent up at 45 degree angle. Prop destroyed. Gas tank remained intact and half full. Gear has minor damage. Both upper wings, wing tips damage from tree impacts. Lower wing has minor damage. Lower wings were removed at inspection. Right horizontal stabilizer has severe damage. Left horizontal stabilizer has minor damage. Fuselage fabric torn in several places.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED UP AND DOWN THE RUNWAY SEVERAL TIME AS THE PILOT BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND CONTROLS. WIND WAS CALM. FULL POWER RUN UP ACCOMPLISHED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THE PILOT PROCEEDS TO DEPART RUNWAY NUMBER 1. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF AND STABILIZED IN GROUND EFFECTS AT 65 INDICATED. THE PILOT PITCHED NOSE UP AND AIRSPEED FAIL OFF TO 55 INDICATED. THE PILOT PITCHED BACK TO NOSE LEVEL AND BUILT UP AIRSPEED BACK TO 65 AND PITCHED UP AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN AIRSPEED FAIL OFF TO 55 INDICATED. NEVER COULD GET AIRCRAFT TO ACCELERATE PAST 65 INDICATED. NO EXCESSIVE CONTROL INPUTS WERE REQUIRED. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT DECIDED AND THERE WASN'T ENOUGH RUNWAY LEFT TO LAND AND HE WAS NOT GOING TO CLEAR THE TREES EITHER. HE PROCEEDED TO PICK A PLACE WHERE TO PUT IT INTO THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SEVERE FIREWALL DAMAGE, ENGINE BENT UP AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE. PROP DESTROYED. GAS TANK REMAINED INTACT AND HALF FULL. GEAR HAS MINOR DAMAGE. BOTH UPPER WINGS, WING TIPS DAMAGE FROM TREE IMPACTS. LOWER WING HAS MINOR DAMAGE. LOWER WINGS WERE REMOVED AT INSPECTION. RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAS SEVERE DAMAGE. LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER HAS MINOR DAMAGE. FUSELAGE FABRIC TORN IN SEVERAL PLACES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.