Accident Overview
A pilot elected to use the left side of a sod strip for takeoff because the middle section was worn and the strip was wet. During the takeoff roll, the left spray boom dragged into wheat that was growing beside the runway, causing the aircraft to veer left. Wheat strips approximately 30 feet wide had been planted on each side of the runway. After crossing the wheat, the aircraft entered a wet bean field and nosed over. The pilot was unaware that the boom had dragged in the wheat and that the aircraft had veered until after the accident.
Sequence of Events
The sod strip showed signs of wear from the middle, and rain had left the surface wet. In response, the pilot chose to use the left portion of the strip for the departure. As the aircraft accelerated, the left spray boom made contact with wheat plants growing adjacent to the runway. This contact caused the aircraft to turn left, departing the intended takeoff path. The aircraft then traversed the wheat strip, which was about 30 feet wide, and continued into an adjacent field where beans were growing in wet soil. The aircraft ultimately nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
Pilot Awareness
The pilot reported not realizing that the spray boom had interacted with the wheat or that the aircraft had veered until after the accident occurred. The first indication of the deviation from the intended path was the entry into the bean field and the subsequent nose-over.
Aircraft Damage
[No specific damage described in source.]