N7487Y

On July 6, 1995, at 1045 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N7487Y, collided with a fence shortly after takeoff from the Henry's Lake Airport, Island Park, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight was departing from Island Park with an intended destination of Pocatello, Idaho.

During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot stated that he was departing from runway 24. As the airplane lifted off at 80 miles per hour, a gust of wind from the right blew the airplane off to the left side of the runway. The airplane's landing gear collided with a fence that parallels the runway. The pilot stated that he was able to maneuver the airplane back to the runway where he reduced power and landed on the airstrip. Approximately 200 yards of wire and fence posts were damaged.

The pilot reported that the wind was from 340 degrees at two knots with gusts to eight knots.

The Idaho Airport Facilities Directory Airport Layout depicts a 4,600 foot by 170 foot turf airstrip that is surrounded by an electric fence.