Poplar Grove, IL, USA
N2844K
LUSCOMBE 8
The pilot was attempting to perform a midfield takeoff with approximately 1,800 feet of runway remaining. During the departure, the airplane was unable to clear the trees at the departure end of the runway so the pilot executed a right turn to the north. As he made the turn, he realized that there were power lines so he performed an off-airport landing sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and the left side of the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation and said the accident could have been prevented if he had used the entire runway.
The pilot stated that he attempted a midfield takeoff with approximately 1,800 feet of runway remaining, but the airplane was unable to clear the trees at the departure end of the runway. The pilot executed a right turn to the north but was unable to clear power lines that were along the airplane's course so he performed an off airport landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the left side of the fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the pilot and passenger each weighed over 200 lbs and that it was a hot afternoon at the time of the accident.
The pilot's decision to not use all available runway length and his failure to abort the takeoff.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
