Overview
Two days before the accident, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field due to fuel exhaustion. On the day of the accident, the pilot added approximately 6 gallons of fuel to the airplane and attempted to take off from the same field, using a corn field and a parking lot as the takeoff surface.
Takeoff and Impact
About 550 feet from the start of the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing struck a 6-foot-tall wood pole measuring 4 by 4 inches. Following the impact, the airplane veered left and began to climb. However, it subsequently pitched down and struck power lines. The left wing was severed at the root, and the airplane impacted the ground nose-first approximately 1,400 feet from the takeoff start point.
Examination and Observations
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions. The property owner reported that the pilot was aware of the pole before takeoff. The pilot had painted a red makeshift centerline on the ground, but the airplane drifted left of this marked centerline during the takeoff roll.