May 26, Columbia, Calif. / Beech Bonanza

At 16:30 PDT, a Beech F33A crashed on takeoff. The commercial-rated pilot and passenger were killed. A pilot witness reported the wind to be 290 degrees at 14 knots with a reported density altitude of 3,900 feet. According to witnesses, the airplane departed on runway 17. It became airborne about midfield and flew nose high 10 to 20 feet above the runway. The pilot reduced then reapplied engine power, and the airplane crossed the departure end of the runway end about 20 feet agl with the landing gear extended. The airplane collided with trees about -mile beyond the runway end.