Incident Overview
A pilot conducted a landing on a 1,300-foot compacted used asphalt road. After using approximately half the road for the landing, the pilot believed a safe takeoff was possible due to the landing distance, half fuel, and being alone in the aircraft. During the subsequent takeoff roll, the pilot rotated the aircraft as the road's end approached.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft struck a fence with its landing gear and then impacted a tractor, severing the left wing. The aircraft slid to a stop in an adjacent farm field. No fire occurred.
Performance Considerations
Calculated performance data indicated that on a paved surface, the takeoff roll with flaps up was 1,250 feet, and with 25 degrees of flaps, 1,150 feet. The density altitude was approximately 6,000 feet mean sea level at the time.
Remarks
The pilot's decision to attempt takeoff from the remaining road distance, given the performance calculations, was not consistent with the available runway length. However, no causal analysis is provided by the source.