Accident Overview
During the takeoff roll, as the tailwheel lifted off the runway, the pilot observed an automobile moving onto the runway ahead. The aircraft had not yet reached flying speed, and insufficient runway distance remained to stop before reaching the vehicle. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the pilot pulled back on the flight control stick, intending to climb over the automobile. However, this maneuver was unsuccessful, and the accident occurred at a location where an access road crossed the runway.
Sequence of Events
The takeoff roll was underway, and the aircraft had just rotated its tailwheel off the ground when the pilot noticed the automobile entering the runway. The airplane had not yet attained flying speed, and the runway space remaining between the two vehicles was insufficient to bring the aircraft to a stop. Faced with an imminent collision, the pilot applied aft stick input to try to fly over the car, but the attempt did not succeed.
Context
The accident site was at a point where an access road intersected the runway. The presence of the automobile on the runway precipitated the incident, and the aircraft was unable to avoid the vehicle given the limited options available at that stage of the takeoff.