SEA98LA003

The pilot had just purchased the airplane in Canada and was ferrying it back to his home. After departing from an airport, he realized that the airplane was running low on fuel, so he performed a precautionary landing in a field. After fueling the airplane with 9 gallons of automotive gasoline from a nearby gas station, he decided to take off from the stubble field. He initiated the takeoff in a southbound direction approximately 790 feet from a barbed wire fence. After rolling 525 feet, he altered his takeoff direction to the southeast. The airplane became airborne about 130 feet from the fence. It then struck a post on the fence and proceeded to pull a barbed wire strand with it for approximately 50 feet. The strand held fast and yawed the aircraft left. The propeller impacted the ground approximately 70 feet southeast of the fence, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot also reported that the engine was 'fully firing' and that there were no perceived mechanical problems with the airplane during takeoff. He also stated that he should have taxied '...further back to increase margin of takeoff run.'

On October 17, 1997, about 1500 mountain daylight time, a Champion 7EC airplane, Canadian registry CF-OJT, operated by the owner/pilot, struck a fence during takeoff and was substantially damaged near Galata, Montana. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The ferry flight departed from Havre, Montana, and was destined for Shelby, Montana. The flight had originated from Canada and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot stated (statement attached) that he had just purchased the airplane in Canada and was ferrying it back to his home in Renton, Washington. After departing from Havre, he "...noticed high rate of fuel consumption as indicated by wing fuel gages." He performed a precautionary landing in a field, and obtained 9 gallons of automotive gasoline from a nearby gas station. After fueling the airplane, he started it and taxied into the "gusting" wind for takeoff.

The pilot stated that during the takeoff and initial climb, the airplane struck a fence after traversing about 600 feet of terrain, and then "nosed in." The pilot also reported that the engine was "fully firing" and that there were no perceived mechanical problems with the airplane during takeoff. The pilot also stated that he should have taxied "...further back to increase margin of takeoff run."

According to an aviation safety inspector (statement attached) with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from Helena, Montana:

In a stubble field north of the accident site, [the pilot] initiated a takeoff in a southbound direction approximately 790 feet from a barbed wire fence which separated his departure field from his crash site field. After rolling 525 feet he altered his takeoff direction to the southeast. For the next 135 feet the aircraft transitioned to a ground roll attitude with only the left main wheel on the ground. Approximately 129 feet from the fence the airplane became airborne. The airplane then struck a post on the barbed wire fence and proceeded to pull a barbed wire strand with it for approximately 50 feet. The strand held fast and yawed the aircraft left (east). The propeller/spinner impacted the ground approximately 70 feet southeast of the impacted fence post. The aircraft then bounced backwards in an easterly direction and struck the right wing tip with the ground before coming to a final rest approximately 100 feet from the impacted fence post. Evidence of wing fabric and red lens plastic was found in the vicinity of the impacted fence post. An indentation on a piece of the left wing spar appears to match the top portion of the impacted fence post.

The inspector also reported that both wings were substantially damaged, and the engine was separated from the airframe. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were found during the inspector's examination.