N2732K

On August 17, 1994, at 1840 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180K, N2732K, collided with an embankment during the take off at Hite, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR 135. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and his four passengers were not injured. The flight was departing from Hite and was en route to Moab, Utah.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he was taking off to the east with a cross wind from the south that was gusting to 40 knots. Just after the tail wheel lifted off the runway, the pilot stated that "...we were hit with a gust that could have been beyond the crosswind component of the airplane..." The airplane lifted off and drifted to the left and off the runway. The airplane touched down again and began to bounce through the brush. The pilot opted to abort the take off and the airplane collided with an embankment before coming to a stop.