Accident Details
During a late afternoon takeoff from an unimproved grass airstrip, the pilot was departing to the west. As the airplane crested a rise in the runway, the pilot lost visual reference with the ground because the sun was in his eyes. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane struck a rut in the ground. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on its belly. The impact substantially damaged the firewall.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The pilot did not indicate any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. No further details about the aircraft or pilot are available from the source.
Sequence of Events
The accident occurred during the takeoff phase. The pilot was operating from an unimproved grass airstrip. The late afternoon sun, low on the horizon, directly faced the departing aircraft, causing a sudden loss of ground reference as the airplane climbed over a rise. This led to a loss of directional control, and the airplane veered into a rut, causing the landing gear to fail.