N22307Cessna 150H · 1968

The student pilot and instructor were preparing for the student’s private pilot checkride. After performing takeoffs, landings, and several maneuvers, they decided to perform a landing at a 1,720 ft private grass strip. The landing was uneventful, and the student pilot taxied back and prepared to take off with 10° of flaps. During the takeoff, after the airplane became airborne, and the last recollection the student pilot had was that the airplane was not climbing due to “low airspeed in [the] high heat [and] high humidity.” Subsequently, the airplane impacted the runway about 100 ft from trees at the departure end, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The student pilot reported that they did not complete performance calculations prior to the takeoff. Takeoff performance calculations based on the takeoff distance chart in the airplane owner’s manual revealed that a ground roll of about 1,022 ft and a takeoff distance of about 1,792 ft was required to clear a 50-ft obstacle at the airplane’s maximum allowable gross weight. The chart (and the checklist procedure) indicated that the maximum performance takeoff was to be performed with the flaps in the retracted position. In addition, the student pilot and the flight instructor stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane during the takeoff.