CEN16LA342

The commercial pilot and one passenger departed in a vintage airplane from a private airstrip. During the takeoff, the airplane would not climb with full engine power, and it collided with trees about 1/2 mile from the end of the runway. An examination of the airplane revealed that the flaps were in the "down" position. However, the Before Takeoff checklist stated, "flaps up," for takeoff. The pilot reported that he normally took off with one notch of flaps. It is likely that the pilot's failure to follow the Before Takeoff checklist and his use of the wrong flaps setting for takeoff degraded the airplane's climb performance.

On August 30, 2016, about 1950 eastern daylight time, a Fairchild M 62A-3 (PT-19) airplane, N47164, collided with tree while departing from a private strip near Madison, Ohio. The commercial rated pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to DTD PT-19 LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to information obtained by investigators, while departing the private strip, the airplane would not climb with full engine power. The airplane collided with trees about ½ mile from the end of the strip. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and wings. An examination of the airframe by the responding Federal Aviation Administration found no anomalies with the airframe. However, the flaps were found in the down or extended position. A review of the aircraft checklist, notes for takeoff: "flaps up". The pilot stated to the FAA inspector that he normally takes off with one notch of flaps. The pilot did not submit a completed NTSB Form 6120.