Incident Overview
While preparing for takeoff, the pilot taxied the aircraft to a position near the midpoint of Runway 8/26, where it intersected with a 750-foot taxiway. At that intersection, the taxiway angled toward the south-southwest, leading to the north end of Runway 17/35.
Sequence of Events
The pilot mistakenly identified the taxiway as the north-south runway. After performing a 360-degree turn to clear the area, he initiated a takeoff on the taxiway. By the time the aircraft reached the end of the taxiway, its speed was too low to lift off, and the pilot was concerned that it was too fast to safely turn onto the actual runway. Consequently, the aircraft continued off the paved surface and struck a barbed wire fence.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the incident, the temperature was 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and the elevation was 1,808 feet.