Quicksilver Eipper Acft Inc GT 400 N3740A accident near Lebanon, Connecticut

Probable cause

The pilot’s misjudgment of the takeoff distance needed to clear trees at the end of the runway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff from a private airstrip, he used only about half of the available runway length. The ultralight airplane reached about 8 to 10 ft above the ground, and the pilot thought it would clear trees at the end of the runway, so he continued the climb. The nose landing gear subsequently cleared the trees, but the main landing gear caught a treetop. The airplane then turned right, stalled, and descended through the trees to the ground. The airplane was heading into gusting wind during the takeoff. A witness reported hearing the engine running after the accident, and the pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14LA462 for the full record.