NTSB Factual Report

The pilot of the amateur-built Zenair CH 701SP, was departing from a 2,100-foot-long, turf runway. He reported that he pulled the control stick back too far, in an effort to reduce the weight on the nose-wheel, which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne prematurely. The airplane did not have enough airspeed for the pilot to be able to maintain directional control. It turned left, descended, and struck trees located off the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained damage to both wings, the empennage, and the forward portion of the fuselage. The pilot reported 2,021 hours of total flight experience, which included 13 hours in same make and model as the accident airplane. He did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane, nor were any found during postaccident examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadvertent premature rotation during takeoff.