N4752V

On August 28, 1999, at 1510 central daylight time, a Boeing Stearman E-75, N4752V, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the clear-way between runway 36 and the taxiway (2,100 feet by 150 feet, dry/grass) at the Sparta Community-Hunter Field Airport, Sparta, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, the takeoff roll and liftoff were unremarkable. The pilot reported that at approximately 50-75 feet above ground level (agl) he noted that the airplane was not accelerating and, "... a very small descent rate was felt." The pilot stated that he elected to land and the airplane touched down approximately abeam the taxiway entrance at the north end of the airport. The pilot reported that he was going to overrun the end of the runway and that there was a ditch off the end of the runway so he, "...tried to lift the airplane over the ditch." After the second touchdown, the aircraft began to track to the left and the left wingtip contacted the terrain. The pilot did not report any engine anomalies occurring prior to and during the accident sequence.

The pilot stated that using, "...full length of the takeoff runway [clearway] and maintain runway centerline throughout the departure" could have prevented the accident.

A weather observation reporting station, located 25 nautical miles north of the accident site, reported few clouds at 4,500 feet agl, visibility of 7 statute miles, barometric pressure of 30.04 inches of mercury, and the winds variable at 5 knots.