Accident Details
The pilot initiated a takeoff to the south from a grass field located adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. The field measured approximately 760 feet in length. The northern half of the field had been mowed, while the southern half remained unmowed.
According to the pilot's report to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane's engine did not seem to be producing full power during the takeoff roll. As the airplane approached the end of the field, its tail wheel contacted a two-foot embankment. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water.
Pilot Reports
The pilot reported that the carburetor heat had been left in the ON position throughout the takeoff. Additionally, the pilot stated that the takeoff was conducted with a "slight tailwind." At the time of the accident, a nearby weather observation facility recorded wind from the northwest at 8 knots.