Event ERA16LA184

Factual narrative

On May 14, 2016, at 1310 eastern daylight time, a Globe GC-1B, N78193, was substantially damaged during climb out from Green Landings Airport (WV22), Hedgesville, West Virginia. The pilot was seriously injured and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individual in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to the pilot, he had just purchased the airplane the day of the accident. Prior to departure he conducted a run up and taxied to the grass strip runway for takeoff from runway 3. He said that the takeoff was uneventful and during climb out all engine indications were normal. When the airplane reached about 100 ft above ground level (agl), he said that it banked sharply to the left. He attempted to level wings but was unsuccessful. The nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane collided with the ground. The pilot reported that he only accumulated 3 flight hours in make and model. According to a witness, he watched the airplane perform a run up prior to takeoff. He said that runway windsock indicated gusty winds and a slight quartering tailwind. He also noticed that the airplane did not use the entire length of the runway for the take off. As the airplane began its takeoff roll it drifted to the left and rotated. The engine was at full power and the airplane was at a high pitch as it began climbing rapidly. The witness observed a rapid aileron input and the airplane stalled. Initial examination of the airplane by a West Virginia State Trooper revealed that the airplane came to rest in the front of a residential home. Both wings were buckled and the horizontal stabilizers were broken away from the empennage. Examination of the engine and flight controls by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions at the Hagerstown, Washington County Regional Airport (HGR), approximately 13 nautical miles from the accident site, were winds at 290° at 13 knots with 22 knot gusts, light rain and 8 statute miles visibility, with scattered clouds at 4,900 ft agl. The commercial pilot indicated that he purchased the airplane the day of the accident. Before departure, he conducted an airplane run-up and taxied to the runway for takeoff; the takeoff was uneventful, and engine indications were normal. However, the airplane encountered an uncommanded roll at an altitude of about 100 ft above ground level. He attempted to level the wings but was unsuccessful. The nose of the airplane pitched down, and the airplane collided with the ground. A witness who watched the run-up before takeoff stated that a runway windsock indicated a gusting crosswind (with a slight tailwind component); he then observed what seemed like a rapid aileron input during the takeoff, and the airplane stalled. Postaccident examination of the engine and flight controls revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Thus, it is likely that the pilot was unable to regain control of the airplane when the airplane encountered a wind gust. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C