LIMINGTON (AP) — A preliminary report by accident investigators into a fatal plane crash indicates the single-engine plane clipped trees shortly after taking off from Limington-Harmon Airport.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the 1942 Culver two-seat airplane flown by 52-year-old Clarke Tate of Gray appeared to stall before hitting trees on the side of the runway on July 13.

The preliminary report quotes witnesses as saying they heard the engine sputter before going to full power. They said the airplane was too low at the end of the runway.

The plane was registered to Tate, who’d intended to fly to Twitchell Airport in Turner. He was an experienced pilot with 5,995 hours of flying experience.