Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to establish and maintain the airstrip centerline during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane’s right wingtips contacting the corn that bordered the airstrip.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was departing from a 100-ft-wide grass airstrip in the tailwheel-equipped agricultural biplane. The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, as the tail of the airplane came up, the right wingtips contacted the corn that bordered the airstrip. The airplane subsequently veered further into the corn and spun around. The airplane’s wings, fuselage, and empennage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.