DEN90LA130

Factual narrative

THE PLT, WITH 3 PAX ABOARD, ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM RWY 13 (3,035 FT X 200 FT, TURF) AT THE CONDON, MT, USFS AIRSTRIP (ELEVATION 3,686 FT MSL). WINDS WERE APRX 1-5 MPH. THE PLT SELECTED 20 DEG OF FLAPS AND USED A SHORT/SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF BRIEFLY BUT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND. THE PLT DID NOT FEEL HE COULD ABORT TAKEOFF BECAUSE THERE WERE TRUCKS, TRAILERS, MULES, AND PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE THOUGHT HE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN DOWNDRAFT. THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT AND CLEARED THE PARKED VEHICLES BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE PLT CUT THE PWR AND TRIED TO SLOW THE ACFT BEFORE IMPACT. PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATE ACFT NEEDED 1,240 FT OF RWY FOR ITS GROUND RUN AND 2,084 FT TO CLEAR A 50-FT OBSTACLE. PLT SAID AIRSTRIP IS KNOWN FOR WIND SHEAR ABOVE TREE LINE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12