N4342W

On September 10, 2000, at 1405 central daylight time, a Beech B24, N4342W, collided with trees following a hard touchdown and loss of directional control during an aborted takeoff at Murmuring Pines, a private airstrip, in Necedah, Wisconsin. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Lake in the Hills, Illinois.

The takeoff was being made on runway 29 (2,700 feet by 160 feet, dry grass). The pilot stated that during the initial takeoff at an altitude of about 30 feet above ground level, a change in engine sound occurred. He stated that he looked at the tachometer and does not recall what it was indicating, but it was no longer at 2,700 rpm. The pilot reported that the airspeed was not increasing so he elected to abort the takeoff. He reported that during the aborted takeoff the airplane "bounced once hard and floated back up 20 ft." The pilot reported the airplane then touched down in a nose down attitude and the propeller contacted the ground. The airplane then veered to the right and contacted trees along the right edge of the airstrip.

An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Flight Standards District Office conducted a post accident inspection of the airplane and engine. He reported the engine was started and was run up to full power. The inspector reported the engine operated normally to 2,700 rpm and 28 inches of manifold pressure.