Event GAA19CA438

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during takeoff, the airplane "did not gain altitude normally." About midfield, the airplane had climbed only a few feet and the right wing "may have caught" the 4ft tall grass that outlined the 40ft wide runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. According to the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook the wingspan of the airplane was 32ft 9in. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane "did not gain altitude normally." About midfield, the airplane had climbed only a few feet, and the right wing hit tall grass that outlined the 40-ft-wide runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the airplane's wingspan was 32 ft 9 in. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Effect on operation - C