Incident Overview
A pilot responded to a farm field where another pilot had earlier landed an airplane after an inadvertent engine stoppage. The accident pilot, accompanied by a flight instructor and a mechanic, arrived to recover the aircraft. An FAA inspector also met them at the scene. The airplane was deemed airworthy, and the pilot announced his intention to take off from the unlit field at night.
Attempts to Dissuade the Pilot
The FAA inspector, flight instructor, and mechanic all attempted to dissuade the pilot from his plan. Despite their concerns, the pilot proceeded with the takeoff attempt after the inspector left the scene, 41 minutes after civil twilight.
Takeoff and Accident Sequence
According to the flight instructor, the pilot held the throttle at full power throughout the takeoff. The instructor reported that the pilot pitched up and never lowered the nose, causing the tail to drag the entire time. The aircraft climbed over a barn, struck a sign, crossed a road, passed under power lines, went up an embankment, and descended into a field. The airplane bounced in the field, struck its right wing, then nosed into the ground before coming to rest.
Post-Accident Examination
Immediately after the accident, the pilot told the FAA inspector that the accident resulted from his "poor soft field technique." Later, the pilot informed the Safety Board that the engine lost power during takeoff. However, after the accident, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran to full power without interruption while still on the airframe. The engine stopped only when the propeller struck the ground.
Flight Instructor's Account
When asked if he endorsed the pilot's plan for takeoff, the flight instructor responded negatively. He stated that everyone discussed the plan, but the pilot was stubborn and insisted, "It's my airplane, and it's airworthy. I'm taking off." The instructor suggested alternative ways to remove the aircraft, such as taking off in the opposite direction or disassembling the wings and trucking it out. He concluded that, from his perspective, the pilot executed the procedure completely incorrectly.
Fuel and Power Information
The engine was at full power the entire time during the takeoff attempt. The engine stopped when the propeller struck the ground. No other details about fuel or power were provided in the source.