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WPR11CA442

2011-09-09 · Corvallis, Oregon, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OG01

Current FAA registration · N5628K

Make / Model
AIR CREATION TANARG
Year of manufacture
2006 · 5 years old at event
Engine
ROTAX 582SER (65 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20090917
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A731D2

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while taking off with a gusting crosswind.

Factual narrative

The pilot, who was taking off in a powered-lift, weight-shift controlled, light sport aircraft, was departing from a grass airstrip in gusting crosswind conditions. He was aware that about five yards from the edge of the airstrip there was a line of irrigation pipes supported by ten foot diameter metal rotation wheels, but he thought that allowing the aircraft to weather vane into the crosswind would keep him over the airstrip. Therefore, after liftoff he allowed the aircraft to weather vane toward the irrigation pipes. But, soon thereafter the wind shifted, and the aircraft flew into one of the ten foot support wheels before the pilot could take corrective action. In the recommendations section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that he was in a rush, and that he should have taken the time to move over to an adjacent field that was away from the irrigation system. The pilot, who was taking off in a powered-lift, weight-shift controlled, light sport aircraft, was departing from a grass airstrip in gusting crosswind conditions. He was aware that, about five yards from the edge of the airstrip, there was a line of irrigation pipes supported by ten foot diameter metal rotation wheels, but he thought that allowing the aircraft to weathervane into the crosswind would keep him over the airstrip. Therefore, after liftoff he allowed the aircraft to weather vane toward the irrigation pipes. Soon thereafter the wind shifted, and the aircraft flew into one of the ten foot support wheels before the pilot could take corrective action. In the recommendations section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that he was in a rush, and that he should have taken the time to move over to an adjacent field that was away from the irrigation system. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Contributed to outcome
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground equipment-Response/compensation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR11CA442.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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