Incident Details
The pilot of a Maule ML-4, suspecting a carburetor problem, performed a precautionary landing on a sod-surfaced, closed airport. After landing, the pilot conducted a ground run of the engine, which operated without issue.
Sequence of Events
Deciding to depart, the pilot requested a person mowing grass nearby to cut a 10-foot by 1000-foot swath. Once the grass was cut, the pilot initiated a takeoff. However, the aircraft failed to reach takeoff speed, and the main wheels began sinking into the ground. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and as the aircraft slowed, it nosed over.