CHI98LA122

The pilot said he began his takeoff at the north end of a farm field with rolling terrain. He said the airplane lifted off after a 1,000-foot ground roll. When the airplane had climbed to a pilot-estimated 150-2oo-feet above the ground the pilot said the airplane the airplane '...started to fall out of the sky... .' The STOL-equipped airplane collided with telephone wires, trees and the ground. The flight instructor-rated passenger confirmed the pilot s version of what occurred. The rear seat passenger said the airplane lost lift when it turned to the left as it approached rising terrain. The passenger said the airplane crashed shortly thereafter. The on-scene investigation revealed no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or powerplant that would prevent normal flight. Tire tracks in the 6 to 8-inch high grass showed a takeoff roll of about 1,500-feet. The path through the tree's that the airplane collided with was 90-degrees to the tire tracks.

On April 14, 1998, at 1650 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172, N6300E, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees and terrain while on an initial climb out following takeoff from a farm field. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. A second passenger was seriously injured. The flight departed Barrington hills, Illinois, at 1650 cdt.

According to the pilot's written report he "...had walked the field a few weeks before landing there... ." He said he taxied the airplane to "...the north end of the field and ran up the motor... ." The pilot said the airplane lifted off the ground after a ground roll of about 1,000-feet. He said the airplane "...attained 150-200 feet AGL..." when, "...without warning we immediately started to fall out of the sky with no change in attitude..." or change in engine performance. He said there was no stall warning as the airplane began to descend.

During an interview with the pilot it was revealed he did what he described as a standard issue soft field takeoff where he attained the best angle of climb airspeed while in ground affect. He said once the airspeed was attained, the airplane climbed to above the trees. The pilot said he did not turn away from the rising terrain the airplane was approaching. He said the airplane's airspeed slowed down and the airplane descended into telephone wires and trees. He added that the airplane had a short field takeoff or landing (STOL) kit installed on it. He said the engine was "...running strong..." throughout the flight.

The rear seat passenger said the airplane turned to the left as it approached the rising terrain that was to its right side. He said the airplane lost lift as it turned to the left and crashed. The pilot-rated passenger in the left front seat was an active flight instructor. He said the flight was not a dual flight and that he was a passenger. He said the takeoff was a normal soft field takeoff with a short field climb out. He said the airplane was about 150-feet above the ground when it encountered a wind shear. He said, "We started straight down. No stall horn. No stall... ."

The instructor-rated passenger said both he and the pilot listened to the DuPage County Airport, West Chicago, Illinois, control tower automated terminal information service (ATIS) broadcast before departing the farm field. He said the ATIS reported the winds at DuPage County Airport were reported to be 15-knots with gusts to 19-knots.

The instructor-rated passenger said the field was about 2,000-feet long and about 100-feet wide. He said the airplane used about 1,500-feet before it lifted off the ground. He said the airplane was pitched up about 10-degrees during the climb out after takeoff.

A Barrington Hills, Illinois, police officer said he observed the airplane while driving toward it. He said the airplane was below the trees and heading toward them when he saw it. He said the engine sounded normal to him. As he turned westbound on the road where the barn was located that the airplane collided with, he said he lost sight of the airplane. A short time later he drove up to the accident scene.

The on-scene investigation revealed no anomalies with the airframe, control system, or power plant that would prevent flight. The field used for takeoff had grass that was about six to 8-inches high and about 4,500-feet long and 200 to 300-feet wide. Tire tracks made by the airplane were found. The landing, taxi-in, taxi-out, and takeoff tire tracks were identified. The tire tracks showing the beginning of the takeoff were about 1,000-feet from the field s north end. These tracks angled toward the northeast about 1,500-feet. At this point they were no longer identifiable on the field's surface. The field had a series of rolling hills along its length. The airplane s takeoff tire tracks showed it gone uphill and then downhill before lifting off. These tire tracks headed toward an area of rapidly rising terrain. The tree's N6300E collided with were 40 to 50-feet high. The path through the trees was about 90-degrees to the left of the tire tracks.