ATL99LA060

The accident occurred during takeoff. The pilot stated that the takeoff run was normal until tailwheel liftoff. At that point, the pilot felt the plane yaw right. The pilot attempted to correct the situation, but realized that the right main wheel was going off the edge of the runway. Once the right main gear departed the runway surface, the pilot decided to exit the runway and continue takeoff on the grass. The airplane subsequently rolled over a drop-off, collided with a fence, and nosed over.

On March 27, 1999, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N1766K, collided with a barb wire fence and nosed over during an attempted takeoff from the Lumpkin County-Wimpys Airport in Dahlonega, Georgia. The personal flight was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and a passenger were not injured. The flight originated in Dahlonega, Georgia, at 1505 eastern standard time.

According to the pilot, the takeoff run was normal until tail wheel liftoff. At that point, the pilot felt the plane yaw to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the situation, but realized that the right wheel was veering off the edge of the runway. Once the right main gear departed the runway surface, the pilot decided to exit the runway and continue takeoff on the grass. According to the pilot, he was unable to "control drift" and the airplane subsequently rolled over a drop-off, collided a fence, and nosed over.

Examination of the airplane disclosed that the tail section of the airplane was separated from the fuselage just forward of the empennage. Additional damage included a broken right wing strut, puncture holes in the wings, landing gear damage, cowling damage, and a bent propeller assembly. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.