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WPR21LA218

2021-05-28 · Sulphur Creek, Idaho, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ID74

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inability to maintain airplane control during takeoff when the airplane encountered a tailwind and gusting winds which resulted in an aborted takeoff and forced landing to rough terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, and while in ground effect, the airplane encountered a quartering tailwind that pushed the airplane to the left and reduced the airplane’s climb performance. As the airplane passed a line of trees, at an altitude of 3-5 ft above ground level, it encountered a 90° wind gust from the left. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff when the airplane drifted further to the left and would not climb. The pilot initiated a forced landing on a rough field. The airplane’s forward fuselage was substantially damaged when it collided with the terrain and nosed down. 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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Effect on equipment

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_WPR21LA218.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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