NTSB Factual Report

On May 12, 2012, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N4727S, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from an unimproved farm field near Applegate, Michigan. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained damage to the nose landing gear and firewall. The aircraft was registered to Daedalian Flyers and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Flugplatz Airport (7MI), Lexington, MI when the accident occurred.

The pilot reported that he had inadvertently landed on a plowed field near 7MI. He stated that there was no damage during the landing and that he returned to the airplane about 4 hours later. He stated that during taxi toward the east, the airplane veered to the left and when he corrected to the right, the nose landing gear collapsed and the propeller contacted the ground. He stated that his intent was to reposition the airplane to 7MI. During a telephone conversation, the pilot stated that his intent was to taxi the airplane on the local roads to 7MI.

In a conversation with a Lockheed Martin Flight Service Station agent, the pilot reported that the airplane “got stuck in the mud on departure”. When asked by the agent if there was any damage to the airplane he responded that there was and that he was using ground transportation.

Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed damage to the airplane's firewall.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s decision to attempt to take off from an unimproved field, which resulted in a collapsed nose landing gear.