NTSB Factual Report

On May 23, 2002, at 1730 central daylight time, a Beech 35, N2925B, registered to and operated by a private pilot, impacted the terrain, at Hernando Village Airpark, Hernando, Mississippi, during a soft field take off. The personal flight was operated 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, and the private pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. The flight departed Hernando Village Airpark, Hernando, Mississippi, at 1715.

According to the pilot, he was conducting a soft field take off of runway 14. After lift off, the pilot lowered the nose of the airplane. The pilot noted that he had to add more right rudder than usual as the airplane started to drift left of the center of the runway. The pilot stated that he then leveled the wings so that he would not need crosswind correction. At this time, the airplane started to drift to the left, and efforts by the pilot to correct the left drift failed. The airplane's right wing pitched up and the left wing stuck the ground. The airplane came to rest approximately 1500 feet to the left of the runway.

Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing was buckled at the leading and trailing edges. The fuselage showed evidence of buckling at the rear passenger seat area. The engine mount was separated from the firewall. The engine was separated from the mounts. Both propellers blades were bent, and twisted aft towards the fuselage. The right main landing gear collapsed and the nose strut was broken. The left wing tip, and outboard aileron flight control surface were also damaged. The private pilot did not report any flight control or mechanical difficulties with the airplane prior to the accident. The Beech 35 is a low wing airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain wing tip clearance during an attempted takeoff that resulted in the collision with the ground.