Stoltzfus Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Apple Creek, Ohio 44606
Saturday, September 2, 2000 5:55 EDT

The airplane had arrived at the departure airport the previous day. The pilot requested that the airplane be fueled, and received 45.2 gallons of fuel. The day of the accident, the pilot, four passengers, and about 100 pounds of cargo were loaded into the airplane. The airplane was then taxied to the runway and departed to the north. As the airplane proceeded down the runway, about 800 feet from the departure end, the airplane ascended into the air and settled back down on the runway. The airplane continued down the runway, bounced a second time and became airborne again. Once the airplane was in the air, a stall-warning light and stall-warning buzzer activated. Seconds later the stall warnings went out. The pilot-passenger in the right seat then stated out loud, "oh no," and the airplane struck power lines. The pilot passenger then stated "looks like we are going to hit the house," and the airplane hit a 20-foot high flagpole at the 8-foot level. The airplane continued into a wooded area before coming to rest and consumed by a post crash fire. The weather reported from a nearby airport, at 0553, were winds from 340 degrees at 3 knots, 1/4 statute mile visibility with fog, broken cloud layer at 100 feet, overcast clouds at 600 feet. The estimated weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was calculated to be approximately 3,685 pounds. The published maximum gross weight for the airplane was 3,400 pounds. Review of the airplane's performance data revealed that the normal takeoff roll, at 3,400 pounds, was about 1,300 feet. The rate of climb, at 3,400 pounds, was about 930 feet per minute.

The pilot's premature liftoff and failure to attain a proper climb rate. Factors related to the accident were the over-gross weight conditions, and the low cloud ceilings.