N50579

On November 17, 1997, at 1800 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 150, N50579, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with the ground following takeoff from a snow covered, cut, soybean field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed the cut soybean field that was about 3-miles northwest of Plymouth, Indiana, at 1800 est.

The pilot said he exhausted the airplane's fuel during a cross country flight. He said he made a forced landing without incident. The pilot said he refueled the airplane with about 10 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot, the field he was taking off from was covered with about 3-inches of snow. He said a front, lefthand, 40-degree crosswind of 5 to 10 knots existed when he began the takeoff roll.

The pilot said the airplane lifted off the ground when he used the manufacturer's recommended soft field takeoff technique. He said the airplane began a bank to the right shortly after takeoff. The airplane's right wingtip dragged on the ground causing the airplane to cartwheel, according to the pilot. The pilot was asked how many degrees of flaps he had extended for the soft field takeoff. He said he did not extend any flaps for the takeoff.

The Cessna 150 pilot's operating handbook states that, "...the use of 10 [degrees of] flaps is reserved... for takeoff from soft or rough fields with no obstacles ahead." The pilot said there were no obstacles in front of the takeoff path that would have created a clearance problem for the airplane.