What happened
The pilot reported removing ice from the aircraft before attempting to depart from a snow-covered alfalfa field that was approximately 1000 feet long. The aircraft failed to become airborne during the takeoff roll. Consequently, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff.
During the aborted takeoff, the aircraft continued its forward momentum off the alfalfa field and entered an adjacent furrowed field. The impact with the uneven terrain caused the aircraft to nose over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances of the aborted takeoff and the subsequent ground contact. The pilot's report indicated that ice removal was performed prior to departure, but the specific weight and balance or performance calculations were not detailed in the available narrative. The failure to achieve lift within the available runway length suggests insufficient performance for the conditions.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this incident include the short takeoff distance required due to snow cover and the subsequent overrun into obstructing terrain. The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff roll without achieving airspeed resulted in a loss of control upon leaving the prepared surface.
Safety message
Pilots must carefully calculate takeoff performance requirements for snow-covered runways, which significantly increase ground roll distances. Aborting a takeoff after reaching high speeds on soft or uneven terrain can lead to structural damage and loss of control.