We have studied the electric-field ionization of the Stark-manifold states of neutral ytterbium and have found that it is similar in its gross features to the field ionization of neutral sodium, which is attributed to the large anticrossing of the Stark states of identical m l value. The experimental study is carried out to characterize the pulsed-field ionization of excited Yb, whose results are consistent with the predictions of a simply physical model of the processes. The observation shows no significant effect caused by the double excitation of Yb.