N560FL

On June 8, 2003, about 1900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N560FL, was substantially damaged during the initial climb after takeoff from a private grass airstrip in Aurora, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he performed a normal engine run-up, and departed to the south, on his 2,000-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, grass runway. The airplane was configured with "two notches" of flaps. He rotated at 60 mph, and climbed at 75 mph. The pilot then realized that the airplane was not climbing fast enough to clear the 50-foot-high trees located at the end of the runway. As the airplane approached the trees, the pilot made a right turn; however, the left wing struck a tree and the airplane came to rest in a field.

The pilot further stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions, and "everything seemed perfectly normal."

The pilot reported that he purchased the airplane about 6 months prior to the accident. He also reported 170 hours of total flight experience, which included about 16 hours in the accident airplane.

The weather reported at an airport about 22 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1853, included winds from 150 degrees at 10 knots, with 17 knot gusts, a temperature of 73 degrees F, and an altimeter setting of 29.73 in/hg.

The pilot reported that the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident was about 1,900 pounds. Review of the takeoff distance chart in the airplane owner's handbook revealed that the distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle, at a gross weight of 1,950 pounds was about 1,900 feet. However, the chart was predicated on a takeoff from a level hard surface runway, in a no wind, zero flap configuration. The airplane's maximum takeoff gross weight was 2,150 pounds.