BFO93LA109

The pilot attempted a takeoff with a prevailing tailwind on a grass strip. He stated that he felt a 'major mush' about three quarters of the way down the runway and dropped the nose to gain airspeed. Realizing that he would not clear obstacles at the end of the runway, he banked to the left. The airplane continued to descend during the bank and the landing gear impacted a tree. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

On July 5, 1993, about 1545 hours eastern daylight time, N1990P, a Piper PA 22, registered to the Dart Airport Flying Club, Mayville, New York, was destroyed after impacting a tree during takeoff from Dart Airport in Mayville, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot.

"I . . . pulled onto runway 24 and checked wind sock again and locked the brakes, put flaps on first notch and ran engine up to full throttle [at 2500 to 2600 revolutions per minute (rpm)] and let go of brakes. The plane went along and became airborne at about 100 yards. At [approximately five eighths to three quarters] of the airstrip I noticed a major mush in the aircraft. The airspeed was showing 65 [miles per hour]. We were [approximately 50 feet] in the air so I dropped the nose to pick up more airspeed, we were at 2500 rpm, the aircraft continued to mush and the end of the runway was rapidly getting closer. I knew that we could not make the trees and house and wires at the end so I turned the aircraft to the left open field . . . at the point of doing this the aircraft dropped more . . . . I banked to the left trying to miss tree but the landing gear hit the tree . . . "

According to FAA Aviation Safety Inspector Richard P. Lansill, the airplane ". . . had crashed while attempting a takeoff on runway 31 . . ." Runway 31 is a grass strip 2,750 in length. Mr. Lansill also stated that a fire had ". . . started under the engine cowling a few minutes . . . " following the impact.

Mr. Lansill also stated, "The burn pattern on the ground indicated that a strong wind in the direction of the takeoff run had been blowing at the time the fire occurred. Person present at the airport . . . stated that the wind had been blowing approximately 10 knots from east to southeast at the time of takeoff."

Mr. Lansill also reported that the airplane was loaded to about 50 pounds under the maximum gross weight at takeoff.

No mechanical malfunctions were reported.