CHI95LA249

The pilot began a biennial flight review with a flight instructor (CFI), but was unable to complete it due to a scheduling problem. After flying .7 hour, he elected to fly with his family. He taxied the airplane to the runway and performed an engine run-up. He stated all indications were normal. With two notches of flaps selected, the pilot began the takeoff roll. He stated that about 1900 feet down the runway, the airplane lifted off and began to climb, then at approximately 50 feet above the ground, the airplane seemed to experience a slight power loss. The pilot said he leveled off, and the airplane started to lose altitude. Deciding that he would be unable to land on the remaining runway or clear a line of trees, the pilot landed in an adjacent field. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical abnormalities. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated that his last flight (before the day of the accident) was in 1992. The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate.

On July 30, 1995, at 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N222KC, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from Kingsman Municipal Airport, Kingsman, Kansas. The pilot and four passengers reported no injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he began his biannual flight review with an instructor, but was unable to complete the flight due to a scheduling problem. After flying .7 hours, the flight was stopped with the intention of completing it at a later time. The pilot stated that in the meantime, he wanted to take his family for a ride so he asked the flight instructor if this would be possible and was told yes. The pilot stated that he questioned the flight instructor if the airplane would hold five people and the flight instructor told him yes if everyone was belted in.

The pilot boarded his family, taxied the airplane to runway 18 (3891' x 50'), and performed an engine run-up. He reported all indications were normal. With two notches of flaps selected, the pilot began the takeoff roll. The pilot stated that the airplane lifted off approximately 1900 feet down the runway. "The plane climbed to about 50' agl. Seemed like slight power loss, leveled off at about 50' by this time we were about 7/8 the distance down runway," the pilot stated. The airplane started to lose altitude. The pilot stated that he had decided that he would not be able to land on the runway nor clear a line of trees, so he decided to land on a field.

In a telephone interview with the instructor, he confirmed that he was not able to finish the biannual flight review with the student due to his schedule. The instructor stated that he had no intention of signing the student off on the biannual flight review even if they had finished because the student did not have a current medical. The instructor stated that he did not give the student permission to take the airplane for a flight with his family.

Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical abnormalities. The engine was successfully started and run up to 2150 RPM without incident. A higher RPM was not attempted due to damage sustained by the engine. A weight and balance calculation done by the FAA found the loaded airplane within limits.

Review of the pilot's logbook indicates his last biannual flight review was on February 7, 1992. The pilot's last flight before this day of the accident was in 1992.