Event GAA15CA293

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he planned to depart from a mountain airport situated in a valley. He stated that the wind was calm before he started his takeoff roll, but after he started, a wind gust from the left pushed the airplane to the right into trees along the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An FAA inspector who went to the accident site reported that an airplane was parked on the right side of the runway about 218 feet from where the accident airplane began the takeoff. The parked airplane's owner, was standing near his airplane at the time of the takeoff, and witnessed the event. The witness reported that the pilot of the accident airplane lost directional control immediately after applying takeoff power and did not correct the airplane's course as it veered to the right. The witness reported that the accident airplane was tracking off the center of the runway from the start, and was aimed directly at him and his parked airplane. He stated that he dove into a ditch to avoid being hit, and that the accident airplane never got more than 10 feet in the air. The FAA inspector reported that he believed the accident airplane was forced into the air, and was not ready to fly. The wheels of the accident airplane rolled across the top of the right wing of the parked airplane, leaving tire tracks on the wing. The accident airplane then collided with a utility pole guy wire and impacted terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he planned to depart from a mountain airport situated in a valley. He stated that the wind was calm before he started his takeoff roll, but after he started, a wind gust from the left pushed the airplane to the right into trees along the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An FAA inspector who went to the accident site reported that an airplane was parked on the right side of the runway about 218 feet from where the accident airplane began the takeoff. The parked airplane's owner, was standing near his airplane at the time of the takeoff, and witnessed the event. The witness reported that the pilot of the accident airplane lost directional control immediately after applying takeoff power and did not correct the airplane's course as it veered to the right. The witness reported that the accident airplane was tracking off the center of the runway from the start, and was aimed directly at him and his parked airplane. He stated that he dove into a ditch to avoid being hit, and that the accident airplane never got more than 10 feet in the air. The FAA inspector reported that he believed the accident airplane was forced into the air, and was not ready to fly. The wheels of the accident airplane rolled across the top of the right wing of the parked airplane, leaving tire tracks on the wing. The accident airplane then collided with a utility pole guy wire and impacted terrain. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. 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 Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Contributed to outcome