Accident Sequence
The accident occurred when a private pilot, who had recently purchased a tailwheel-equipped airplane, was accompanied by a commercial pilot for a familiarization flight around the airport traffic pattern. According to the commercial pilot, the private pilot experienced difficulty taxiing the airplane due to weakness on one side of his body, resulting from a stroke suffered several years earlier.
The private pilot taxied to the runway and applied full engine power for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered off the runway and onto the grass on the right side. The commercial pilot reported that he attempted to apply control inputs to correct the airplane's path, but the airplane nosed over, causing the propeller to strike the ground.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane. The inspection revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and the right wing. The inspector stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.