N5799X

On May 14, 2006, at 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 320, N5799X, struck a wing tip on the runway during takeoff from runway 25R at Daugherty Field, Long Beach, California. The pilot aborted the takeoff. The pilot was operating the privately owned airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot was destined for Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, California.

In a written statement, the pilot said that the taxi and run-up were uneventful. During takeoff, he noted that the wind was coming from the left (south) and he set the flight controls for a crosswind takeoff. He advanced the throttles to takeoff power and rotated the airplane. As the airplane left the runway surface, the left wing was slightly low and he noticed that the airplane was not climbing. As he turned the airplane into the wind, the right wing dropped and the wing tip fuel tank impacted the runway. He stabilized the airplane and pulled the power to idle. The airplane stopped just beyond the runway. The pilot believed that a gust of wind or small microburst may have kept the airplane from climbing and influenced the right wing tip to impact the ground. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

At 1553, the unedited surface weather observation (METAR) at Long Beach reported winds from 180 degrees at 7 knots.

Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator examined the airplane. The inspector noted that the rear spar at the right wing tip was damaged during its impact with the runway surface.