Cessna 180J N9996N accident near Schlater, Mississippi

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was attempting to take off from an airstrip that was primarily used for agricultural airplanes. During takeoff, the airplane veered to the left as the tailwheel lifted off. The pilot corrected by applying right rudder and retarding the throttle, but the airplane departed the runway to the left, impacted a row of corn and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded a normal operation. He said that the accident could have been prevented if he had departed from a larger airport instead of an agricultural airstrip.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA407 for the full record.