On September 1, 1998, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Maule MX-7-160, N6287P, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private unlisted grass airstrip in Skaneateles, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he taxied the tail-wheel airplane to runway 28, a 1,900 foot long, 70 foot wide, grass runway. He further stated: "...Full power was brought up and the brakes were released. The aircraft veered immediately to the left and not having airspeed to correct, I could not bring it to centerline. The [airplane] accelerated but continued to the left so I aborted the takeoff, chopped the power, and applied brakes. As the [airplane] skidded almost to a stop, the left wing clipped a small pine tree. The airplane flipped over and skid to a stop. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. During an interview with an FAA Inspector, the pilot stated he did not remember if the airplane's tail wheel was straight when he commenced the takeoff roll.