N3148E

On June 8, 2000, at 2100 eastern daylight time, an Edgerly Rans S-12, homebuilt airplane, N3148E, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when on takeoff from a grass airstrip near Hartford, Michigan, the airplane entered an uncommanded right turn, struck a tree and subsequently impacted the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

In his written statement, the pilot said that during takeoff from a private airstrip, the airplane "hit 3 bumps in the runway causing the nose gear to jam to the right, holding it in [an] unrecoverable slip condition [and], not allowing the aircraft to climb or turn left." The pilot said that the left wing hit trees, causing the airplane to flip over on to its back.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident location. The airplane was found resting on its back. Its left wing was broken aft. The airplane's nose wheel was deflected and stuck in a right turn. Examination of the airplane's engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.