N74827

On August 13, 1998, at 1230 eastern daylight time (edt), a Grumman American AA-5B, N74827, registered to Sky Rangers of Detroit, Inc., of Detroit, Michigan, was substantially damaged during a collision with a runway marker and the terrain shortly after takeoff from the Decatur Hi-Way Airstrip, Decatur, Indiana. The private pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was departing at the time of the accident with a destination of Port Huron, Michigan.

The pilot reported that the local winds were calm so he decided to use runway 18 for takeoff because of the downhill grade. He reported that he began the takeoff 20 feet from the beginning of the airstrip because the grass was long. The pilot reported the airplane lifted off about 1/2 way down the airstrip at 65 knots with 10 degrees of flaps. He reported he attempted to keep the airplane close to the ground to gain airspeed because it felt a "little mushy." The pilot reported he removed the flaps hoping to pick up airspeed, but "things just got worse." The airplane struck a runway marker along the right side of the runway. It then bounced on the airstrip, crossed over a road, and came to rest in a soybean field.

A post accident test run of the engine was performed. The engine operated up to 2,000 rpm with no abnormalities noted.