N8772M

On November 1, 2003, at 1155 eastern standard time, a Beech A23, N8772M, was substantially damaged while departing from a private strip, the Rainbows End Airport, Salem, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot and a passenger were not injured; however, a second passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was destined for the Spitfire Aerodrome (7N7), Pedricktown, New Jersey. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he departed from runway 01, which was a 1,800-foot long, 50-foot wide turf runway. The pilot stated that the runway was wet, and "all mud" at the departure end. As the airplane lifted off, about 1,000 feet from the beginning of the runway, the pilot felt a "strong breeze, almost a tailwind." The airplane began to settle downward, and touched down back on the runway surface. The airplane then bounced back into the air, and would not climb out of ground effect. The pilot decided not to abort the takeoff, fearing that the nosewheel would sink into the muddy runway, and flip the airplane over. As the airplane continued past the departure end of the runway, the airplane still would not climb, and pilot performed a forced landing to a marsh area.

After the accident, the pilot stated that he "should have aborted the takeoff when he first had the chance to."

The pilot additionally stated that the maximum allowable gross weight of the airplane was 2,350 pounds, and the takeoff weight at the time of the accident was 2,240 pounds.

Review of a Beech A23 Airplane Flight Manual revealed that the total takeoff ground roll, from a level, dry, hard surfaced runway, was about 1,248 feet. No charts were available to compute a ground roll distance from a wet turf runway.

The winds reported by an airport located about 7 miles west of the accident site, at 1151, were from 150 degrees at 5 knots.