On March 19, 2007, a Bellanca 7ECA (registration N90923) operated by James E. Wade was involved in an aviation accident near Calhoun City, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot got too close to a fallen tree on the runway during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff from a 50-foot wide turf runway, a pilot attempted to avoid a fallen tree on the right edge but the right wing contacted it, causing the airplane to spin and hit a fence, resulting in substantial damage.
Incident Details
A pilot was conducting a takeoff from a 50-foot wide turf runway oriented north and south. A fallen tree was lying on the right outer edge of the runway. The pilot believed he had sufficient room to miss the tree during the departure. However, during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing made contact with the fallen tree. This caused the airplane to spin to the right and subsequently collide with a fence. The right wing sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane prior to or during the incident. He stated that he "just got too close to the fallen tree," acknowledging that his judgment of the clearance was insufficient.
Damage
The airplane's right wing was substantially damaged. No other damage was noted. The airplane was not destroyed, and no injuries were reported. The pilot did not specify the aircraft type or registration in the report.
Probable cause
The pilot got too close to a fallen tree on the runway during takeoff.