Globe GC-1B N7824S accident near Bennettsville, South Carolina

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, resulting in a takeoff attempt from a grass parking area instead of the runway and subsequent impact with a pole.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was taking off from a 2,300-ft-long grass strip. He initiated the takeoff from a 1,000-ft-long parking area that was about 35° off the runway heading, thinking it was the runway. After realizing his error, there was insufficient room to stop, the airplane became airborne, and the left wing impacted the windsock pole, which resulted in structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage, and the pilot sustained a serious injury. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA22LA081 for the full record.