WPR24LA145

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, he applied control inputs to compensate for the crosswind, however, as the airplane’s tail lifted up, the airplane encountered a sudden strong crosswind gust. The airplane weather-vaned to the left, exited the runway surface and collided with the precision approach position indicator lights before it came to rest upright in an adjacent ditch. During the accident sequence, 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. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing runway 8, with wind from 050° at 6 to 10 knots gusting to 8 to 15 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Contributed to outcome
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome