NTSB Factual Report

On June 8, 2001, at 1500 central daylight time, a Boeing Stearman A-75, N4558N, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a north-south oriented runway (2,100 feet by 150 feet, grass/turf) at the Herschel Hunter Airport in Marissa, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was the sole occupant and sustained no injuries. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot said, "Replaced McCauley prop with fresh overhauled McCauley prop. Took airplane to end of runway [and] slowly applied power. Was two hundred feet down runway before throttle was full open. Airplane broke ground but didn't climb like normal and I was afraid I wasn't going to clear [the] high voltage power line so [I] attempted to land in field on left side of runway (land is level) and caught wing tip in turn and airplane flipped over on it's back headed the other direction. I think the prop was not set right for this airplane and wouldn't climb right."

The aircraft propeller is a McCauley 41D5926 ground adjustable pitch propeller. The type certificate data sheet for the airplane states that with this propeller installed, the static rpm of the engine should be no more than 1925 rpm and no less than 1575 rpm. In a telephone interview, the pilot said that the static RPM "seemed okay" and that the engine was operating as expected. He said that the performance was better prior to the propeller change.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's manuever to avoid obstructions and his failure to abort takeoff. The pilot's failure to establish adequate climb, and the transmission wire are contributing factors.