N2381Z

On July 23, 1999, at 0700 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE23, N2381Z, collided with a fence during an attempted takeoff from a pasture near Vidalia, Georgia. The personal flight was operated by the pilot 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 was not injured. The flight initially departed Vidalia, Georgia, at 0658.

According to the an FAA Inspector, the pilot elected to takeoff from a 900 foot long grass pasture despite previous leading edge wing damage from another accident. The FAA stated that upon examination of the airplane, a large dent and torn sheet metal received from a previous accident was noticed near the stall warning vane on the leading edge of the left wing. Landing light covers located on the leading edge of both wings were also found to have been damaged and partially missing from a previous accident. Upon takeoff the airplane became airborne and climbed 3 to 4 feet before striking a fence at the end of the field. The airplane subsequently yawed 180 degrees and came to rest in a rubbish pile.

The last annual performed on the airplane occurred in February of 1997, no records of further maintenance were found. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

According to the pilot, additional damage to the airplane included wrinkled wing skin, bent nose gear and main gears, broken engine mount, and propeller damage.