N4691R

On June 10, 2008, approximately 1250 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N4691R, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a grove of trees following a loss of control during takeoff from Brenham Municipal Airport (11R), Brenham, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial observation flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Conroe, Texas (CXO).

In his accident report, the pilot said he checked the weather and radar and noted "a few small showers in the area, nothing close." He said the airport was surrounded by 15 to 20-foot trees that "jut out from the perimeter of the airport towards the runway." There was a 10 knot crosswind, so the pilot selected runway 16 "since it has a down slope." He used a crosswind takeoff procedure. When he rotated, "a tremendous gust of wind hit the aircraft from the rear-left quarter and forced the aircraft sideways off the runway and towards some trees" near the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff but was unable to stop the airplane and it collided with the trees.

According to the 11R AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) report at 1246, the wind was from 100 degrees at 5 knots, with "lightning distant east and southeast."