Event WPR13CA124

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that the student was practicing touch-and-go landings with a “light” crosswind from the right. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a low-level wind shear just as the airplane was beginning to rotate. The nose and right wing lifted up until the left wing struck the runway. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied aileron control to arrest the rising wing, and right rudder to stop the yaw. The airplane subsequently departed the runway striking a runway light and a distance marking sign. The left aileron and the nacelle firewall were bent and wrinkled. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the student was practicing touch-and-go landings with a “light” crosswind from the right. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a low-level wind shear just as the airplane was beginning to rotate. The nose and right wing lifted up until the left wing struck the runway. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied aileron control to arrest the rising wing and right rudder to stop the yaw. The airplane subsequently departed the runway, striking a runway light and a distance marking sign. The left aileron and the nacelle firewall were bent and wrinkled. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Sign/marker-Not specified
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C