Accident Overview
A personal local flight conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91 ended when the airplane's main landing gear collapsed after striking a trench at the end of the takeoff area. The pilot, an airline transport pilot, was operating from an off-airport site.
Pilot Actions and Observations
The pilot reported using a range finder and walking the takeoff area to measure its length, determining it to be about 1,000 feet. During the takeoff roll, the airplane reached an airspeed of 45 knots, at which point the pilot increased the flap setting to 30 degrees. The pilot stated that the airplane did not accelerate further after this flap extension.
Sequence of Events
Perceiving the lack of acceleration, the pilot applied back pressure on the control yoke to reduce the load on the main landing gear. Despite this action, the airplane did not become airborne before reaching the end of the takeoff area. The main wheels then struck a trench, causing the main landing gear to collapse.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot explicitly stated that no mechanical problems with the airplane contributed to the event.
Investigation Findings
No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported. The pilot’s account indicates that the airplane was operating normally aside from the inability to achieve sufficient lift for takeoff within the available distance.