What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot attempted to take from 2,050 feet grass strip. Witness reported, "tail of airplane was extremely low, actually dragging along ground." The witness said tail was still in contact with ground beyond the end of the runway before the airplane crossed shore line and landed in the water. (.4) the pilot began the takeoff roll from the sod runway 'using a soft field technique.' He applied back pressure on the yoke and then full throttle. The pilot reported the engine provided full takeoff power. Witnesses reported the airplane in a nose-high attitude as it dragged its tail the length of the runway. The airplane went off the departure end of the runway and came to rest in the chesapeake bay. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed the flaps were fully retracted.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE FROM 2,050 FEET GRASS STRIP. WITNESS REPORTED, "TAIL OF AIRPLANE WAS EXTREMELY LOW, ACTUALLY DRAGGING ALONG GROUND." THE WITNESS SAID TAIL WAS STILL IN CONTACT WITH GROUND BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE THE AIRPLANE CROSSED SHORE LINE AND LANDED IN THE WATER. (.4) THE PILOT BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL FROM THE SOD RUNWAY 'USING A SOFT FIELD TECHNIQUE.' HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE AND THEN FULL THROTTLE. THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE PROVIDED FULL TAKEOFF POWER. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE AS IT DRAGGED ITS TAIL THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE FLAPS WERE FULLY RETRACTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.