What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot stated that he began takeoff from midfield on runway 09, with approximately 1,500 feet of available runway remaining. Such distance was sufficient for the Ercoupe under normal conditions, however, the grass runway was soggy from prevailing light rain. The pilot further stated that he aborted the takeoff, but not in sufficient time to avoid traveling past the end of the runway. Evidence at the accident scene revealed that the aircraft became slightly airborne as it traveled over a mild embankment at the end of the runway. The nose wheel then dug into soft soil, causing the aircraft to flip over onto its back. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BEGAN TAKEOFF FROM MIDFIELD ON RUNWAY 09, WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,500 FEET OF AVAILABLE RUNWAY REMAINING. SUCH DISTANCE WAS SUFFICIENT FOR THE ERCOUPE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, HOWEVER, THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS SOGGY FROM PREVAILING LIGHT RAIN. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, BUT NOT IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO AVOID TRAVELING PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY. EVIDENCE AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BECAME SLIGHTLY AIRBORNE AS IT TRAVELED OVER A MILD EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE WHEEL THEN DUG INTO SOFT SOIL, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AND THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.