CEN12CA361

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that she departed from runway 27 with the wind from 180 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots. During takeoff the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind when the airplane was about 5 to 10 feet above the runway. The airplane drifted left of centerline and bounced on the runway. The pilot steered the airplane back to the centerline and attempted to abort the takeoff by applying full brakes and pulling the throttle back to idle. The airplane went off the end of the 3,227 foot runway, and the pilot was unable to stop the airplane on the wet grass as it went down an embankment. The airplane crossed a road and went into a steep ditch. The airplane’s firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction or failure. The pilot reported that she took off on runway 27 with the wind from 180 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots. When the airplane was about 5 to 10 feet above the runway, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind, and the airplane drifted left of centerline and descended back onto the runway. The pilot steered the airplane back to the centerline and attempted to abort the takeoff by applying full brakes and pulling the throttle back to idle. The airplane went off the end of the 3,227 foot long runway onto wet grass and continued down an embankment, across a road, and into a steep ditch. The airplane’s firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - F
• F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - F
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Wet/muddy-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven-Effect on operation