On June 17, 1982, a Cessna 120 (registration N1993V) operated by John A Hauck was involved in an aviation accident near Gardner, KS. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff from a grass runway, the aircraft struck a fence, traveled 37 yards, and nosed over in a soft wheat field. The pilot reported using a soft field takeoff technique.
Incident Overview
An aircraft experienced an accident during takeoff when it struck a fence near the departure end of the runway. After impacting the fence, the aircraft traveled approximately 37 yards before nosing over in an adjacent wheat field. The field was reported to be soft due to recent rains.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the runway, which was 1,300 feet long, was covered with grass 4 to 6 inches in height. He executed a soft field takeoff procedure. According to his account, the aircraft became airborne after an estimated 800-foot ground roll but then settled just before reaching the fence.
Environmental Conditions
The pilot reported that the wind was from the south-southwest at 8 knots with gusts to 14 knots. The density altitude at the time was approximately 2,400 feet. No other weather details were provided.