At approximately 1830 Pacific time, a Downer RC-3 struck trees following a takeoff run at Western Airpark. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was killed. The airplane had just been sold to the pilot, who was in the process of repositioning it to another airport. The airplane had not flown for approximately two years. Witnesses said the airplane did not accelerate past about 50 mph and the engine did not sound like it was producing full power during the takeoff run. The airplane went off the end of the runway, clipped trees at about 40 feet agl and went into a ravine.
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