HILLTOP LAKES, TX, USA
N22799
Cessna 150H
The pilot lost control of the airplane while trying to 'abort' on the initial takeoff climb during his third attempt to takeoff from an unimproved grass field. The first two attempts were aborted due to lack of acceleration of the aircraft through tall grass. The airplane impacted the ground with the right wing followed by the nose of the aircraft and then rolled inverted. The pilot's grass field experience consisted of 6 takeoff and landings during his private pilot training.
On September 6, 1998, approximately 1045 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H airplane, N22799, owned and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while aborting takeoff from an unimproved grass field near Hilltop Lakes, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Weiser, Texas, at 0925. The pilot stated that he found what looked to be the grass field he wanted to visit and entered the traffic pattern to land. During the landing flare the pilot "noticed the grass was very tall" but elected to complete the landing. While on landing roll, the pilot noted that the "drag from the grass seemed greater than expected." [The FAA reported that the landing area was not an airstrip or airport, rather an unimproved grass field about 100 feet wide and 2,500 feet long.] After the successful landing, the pilot discussed taking off from the field with his passenger. Subsequently, two maximum performance takeoff attempts were made which were aborted due to the aircraft not accelerating. After discussing the situation with his passenger, the pilot elected to "give it one more try." On the third attempt, the aircraft "lifted off at the halfway point", but the pilot realized that the "rate of climb was not good enough." He reported that the "nose cowling was blocking any view of the trees ahead", and the "grass had forced [the aircraft] to the right and toward the trees on that side at a small angle." The pilot decided to "abort" and tried to "realign the plane to the left." He "added a slight bit of left rudder then slight left aileron." Following these inputs "the adverse yaw then dragged the right wing down from an attitude of no more than 20 feet [and] the right wingtip impacted" the ground. Subsequently, the aircraft rolled "over onto its back", resulting in structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that he had accumulated 103 total flight hours, with about 6 takeoffs and landings on grass fields during his training.
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff. Factors were the pilot's lack of experience in grass field operations, the unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and the pilot's failure to perform a soft field takeoff procedure more suitable for the terrain [high grass].
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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