Precautionary Landing After Slow Takeoff Roll and Nosewheel Strike (N5942D)

Incident Overview During taxiing for departure, the pilot noted to a passenger that the runway surface felt soft. The pilot reported that grass on the runway surface was eight inches high. During the takeoff roll, acceleration was slow. The pilot stated that the aircraft reached 55 mph and full flaps were extended after using 75 percent of the available runway. The aircraft climbed to an altitude of 25 feet, where it encountered a downdraft. Because the aircraft did not continue to climb, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing. During the landing, the aircraft's nosewheel struck a combine rut, causing the aircraft to nose over in three-foot-high grass.