What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot attempted a takeoff from a 2,600 foot grass runway with a significant right crosswind and a potential right quartering tailwind component. The runway had not been mowed recently. The grass varied from 6 - 10 inches in height. The aircraft lifted off with approximately 100 feet of runway remaining, but failed to clear trees approximately 40 - 50 yards beyond the departure end of the runway. After impact with the trees, the wings seperated from the fuselage. The fuselage came to rest approximately 20 yards beyond the trees. During the post crash examination of the wreckage, no mechanical anomalies were discovered. The throttle was in the full open position, the fuel selector was set to the left fuel tank and the flaps and flap lever were in the flap retracted position. It was noted the key in the ignition switch was set to the left mag and not both.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A 2,600 FOOT GRASS RUNWAY WITH A SIGNIFICANT RIGHT CROSSWIND AND A POTENTIAL RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND COMPONENT. THE RUNWAY HAD NOT BEEN MOWED RECENTLY. THE GRASS VARIED FROM 6 - 10 INCHES IN HEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING, BUT FAILED TO CLEAR TREES APPROXIMATELY 40 - 50 YARDS BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER IMPACT WITH THE TREES, THE WINGS SEPERATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 20 YARDS BEYOND THE TREES. DURING THE POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE DISCOVERED. THE THROTTLE WAS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE FLAPS AND FLAP LEVER WERE IN THE FLAP RETRACTED POSITION. IT WAS NOTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SET TO THE LEFT MAG AND NOT BOTH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.