The pilot had been informed by his Chief Pilot that the strip was 3000 feet long when In fact its length was 2, 300 feet. The aircraft weight and ambient conditions were such that the aircraft required the full strip length for take-off if using 20 degrees of flap, and 2, 650 feet for take-off if Hap was not used.

The pilot began a rolling take-off without flap and, when committed to continuing the take-off, he selected eight degrees of flap. He lifted the aircraft off the ground just before reaching a fence 200 feet beyond the end of the strip. The undercarriage struck the fence and the pilot abandoned the take-off and landed In the adjacent paddock The aircraft entered a shallow swamp, breaking off the nosewheel fork before coming to rest.