NTSB Factual Report

On July 25, 2015, at approximately 1040 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36; N6677D, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing, after a loss of power during takeoff at Duchess County Airport (POU), Poughkeepsie, New York. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the flight, conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, destined for the Burlington National Airport (BTV), Burlington, Vermont.

According to the pilot, after arriving at POU from Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania, he purchased 15 gallons of fuel and then sumped the tanks in preparation for the next leg of their flight to BTV.

After starting the engine he taxied out, did his engine runup, checked the magnetos, and cycled the propeller. Then during the takeoff from runway 24, he noticed a vibration and unusual noise as he rotated. He believed that it may have been from the wheels and applied the brakes to stop the wheels from rotating and retracted the landing gear but, the vibration continued. He was however unable to continue climbing, as the engine suddenly incurred a partial loss of power.

He checked that the propeller, throttle, and mixture, was full forward but the airplane still would not climb. With the airspeed being low, he knew that he could not make it back to the airport without stalling the airplane.

There were "trees everywhere" and a set of power lines directly ahead of him. He then pulled back on the control wheel, was able to clear the power lines, and then "forced the nose down" to prevent the airplane from stalling, and landed gear up about 300 feet from the power lines.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane. His most recent application for a FAA third-class medical certificate was dated August 5, 2014. The pilot reported that he had accrued approximately 8,954 total hours of flight experience, of which 6,311 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.

According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1979. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on December 17, 2014. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued 6,796.6 total hours of operation.