Event GAA20CA014

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff the airplane drifted left off runway heading. He attempted to correct, but the airplane continued to drift left, impacted a fence and came to rest in a horse corral. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 220° at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident the wind was 330° at 11 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 08. The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane drifted left of the runway heading. He attempted to correct, but the airplane continued to drift left, impacted a fence, and came to rest in a horse corral. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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 Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Heading/course-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C