What happened
During the takeoff roll, the right landing gear tire of the aircraft blew. This caused the left wing to raise and the airplane to drift toward the right side of the runway. In response, the pilot shut down the engine power. The pilot reported that the right wheel subsequently caught a raised grass area located at the edge of the runway. As a result, the tail of the aircraft swung to the right, causing the right landing gear to collapse. The aircraft came to a stop on the right edge of runway 18, approximately 100 yards from the point where the tire failure occurred.
The investigation
An examination of the accident site revealed tire skid marks located to the right of the runway. Inspection of the aircraft showed damage to the right wing, the right engine, the cowling, and the right wing propeller. The right landing gear assembly was torn from the airframe, and the empennage was partially detached. A review of the available maintenance records did not reveal any history regarding the failed tire. Prior to the accident, the pilot had reported no mechanical issues with the aircraft.