CHI97LA236

The pilot said that he performed a 'short/soft field takeoff' with 10-degrees of flaps extended. He said the takeoff roll was normal. He rotated just before the mid-point of the field. The pilot said that the climb was slow, but comfortable. 'At the end of the field, the landing gear struck the top of a tree.' The airplane then pitched down, yawed to the left, and hit the ground. The pilot got out of the airplane 'which burst into flames shortly after.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies that would have resulted in an accident. The 1645 central daylight time (cdt) Aviation Route Weather Report (METAR) at Kansas City, Missouri, reported winds variable at 4 knots, temperature 34-degrees Centigrade, and an altimeter setting of 30.06.

On August 2, 1997, at 1638 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150M, N66116, operated by a private pilot, was damaged when it struck some trees just after takeoff from an unimproved field and impacted in a field. The airplane was subsequently destroyed in a post-crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated at a private airstrip five miles east of Lee's Summit, Missouri, at 1638 cdt.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he performed a "short/soft field takeoff" with 10-degrees of flaps extended. The pilot said that the takeoff roll was normal. He rotated just before the mid-point of the field. The pilot said that the climb was slow, but comfortable. "At the end of the field, the landing gear struck the top of a tree." The airplane pitched down and yawed to the left. The airplane "hit the ground at that point." The pilot got out of the airplane "which burst into flames shortly after."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage at the site found the remains of the airplane resting in a 3-acre residential field approximately 100 feet southeast of the departure end of the 1,031 foot by 30 foot grass strip. The remains of the airplane was oriented on a 335-degree heading. The airplane's cowling, cabin, fuselage aft to the empennage, and wings were charred and consumed. The remaining wing tips, empennage, engine and propeller showed heavily charring. The propeller showed torsional bending. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies with the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems were revealed.

The 1645 cdt Aviation Route Weather Report (METAR) at Kansas City, Missouri, reported winds variable at 4 knots, a temperature of 34-degrees Centigrade, and an altimeter of 30.06 inches of Mercury (HG).