Background
The pilot had landed her airplane in a cow pasture the day prior to the incident because of a loss of engine power. She reported that the power loss resulted from debris in the right fuel tank, which was subsequently removed by a mechanic. The field was not her intended landing site, and she later decided to take off from the same pasture to continue the flight.
Pre-Takeoff Preparations
The pilot measured the available takeoff distance and determined that the field was "shorter than our typical requirement." However, she elected to proceed with the takeoff because the pasture had a downhill slope. The owner of the pasture mowed a path for the takeoff, and the pilot, along with her husband, inspected the area for rocks and other obstructions. The pilot also established a "no-go" point on the ground; if the airplane had not accelerated sufficiently by that point, she planned to abort the takeoff. She removed all non-essential items from the airplane to reduce weight.
The Takeoff Attempt
During the takeoff roll, the airplane did not accelerate as expected. The pilot aborted the takeoff but passed the designated no-go point. She was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with a fence post. Upon impact, the airplane caught fire as the pilot was exiting the cockpit. The pilot sustained second-degree burns. The accident resulted in structural damage to the left wing and fuselage.
Aftermath
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane during the takeoff roll. She also noted that while she had previously practiced soft-field takeoffs on paved runways, she had no actual experience operating from a soft field, such as the cow pasture.