CHI82DA298

Factual narrative

DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. THE LAMINAR-FLOW WING AND CANARD WERE CAREFULLY WIPED FREE OF A HEAVY DEPOSIT OF DEW. ALL ITEMS OF INSPECTION WERE SATISFACTORY. THE ENGINE WAS WARMED UP WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY. IT WAS NOTED THAT BEADS OF MOISTURE WERE FORMING ON THE SURFACE OF THE CANARD, BUT THE WING COULD NOT BE OBSERVED FROM THE PILOT'S SEAT. DURING TAKEOFF, THE 18 HP ONAN ENGINE WAS TURNING AT 3100 RPM, "ALL OK." LIFT-OFF OCCURRED ABOUT MID-POINT OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER LEAVING GROUND EFFECT, THE CLIMB WAS EXTREMELY SLOW. THE PLANE BARELY CLEARED WIRES ABOUT 500 FT FROM THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE PLANE WOULD NOT CLEAR TREES BEYOND THE WIRES. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES THEN DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS 68 DEG. AND THE ELEVATION WAS 855 FT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12