On June 18, 1994, about 1430 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N4553R, crashed during takeoff from the Holiday Valley Ranch Airport, a private dirt airstrip about 7 miles east of Apple Valley, California. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Banning, California, when the accident occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that prior to departure he reviewed and planned a short field takeoff under high density altitude conditions. After lift-off from runway 06, about 40 feet above the ground, the airplane entered a downdraft and/or windshear and the airplane descended to the ground. The airplane then struck a fence and a large, earth compacting machine. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and engine.