CHI02LA046

Factual narrative

On December 5, 2001, at 1500 eastern standard time, a Miller Lancair 235, N417EM, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it departed controlled flight and impacted terrain on takeoff from runway 18 (2,922 feet by 100 feet dry/turf) at the Tecumseh Merillat Airport (34G), Tecumseh, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal, cross-country flight was to be conducted on a visual flight rules flight plan to Batavia, Ohio, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In his written statement, the pilot said, "With mixture full rich and full throttle I started my take off roll. After reaching 63 to 65 mph the aircraft became air born with slight back pressure on the stick. While trying to correct for cross wind from about 190 [degrees] to 195 [degrees], I noticed the aircraft was being blown to the right of the runway in the direction of a roll [row] of trees and the wind had shifted. At the same time, I noticed my airspeed was becoming to low so I lowered the nose of the aircraft to increse [increase] my airspeed. At this point it appeared the aircraft was heading back to the center of the runway when a gust of wind cought [caught] the right wing and blew the aircraft just enough for the left wing tip to touch the ground. At this time I lost all control of the aircraft." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The tail was separated from the fuselage forward of the vertical stabilizer. The outboard 2 feet of left wing to the wing tip was split open. The nose gear was broken aft and the propeller was splintered. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. At 1452, the wind conditions recorded at Toledo Express Airport, Toledo, Ohio, 24 miles south of the accident site, were 210 degrees magnetic at 14 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot said, "With mixture full rich and full throttle I started my take off roll. After reaching 63 to 65 mph the aircraft became air born with slight back pressure on the stick. While trying to correct for cross wind from about 190 [degrees] to 195 [degrees], I noticed the aircraft was being blown to the right of the runway in the direction of a roll [row] of trees and the wind had shifted. At the same time, I noticed my airspeed was becoming to low so I lowered the nose of the aircraft to increse [increase] my airspeed. At this point it appeared the aircraft was heading back to the center of the runway when a gust of wind cought [caught] the right wing and blew the aircraft just enough for the left wing tip to touch the ground. At this time I lost all control of the aircraft." An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The wind conditions recorded 8 minutes prior to the accident at Toledo Express Airport, Toledo, Ohio, 24 miles south of the accident site, were 210 degrees magnetic at 14 knots with gusts to 20 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12