Accident Details
Date
Saturday, September 6, 2008
NTSB Number
LAX08CA291
Location
Harper, OR
Event ID
20081003X17531
Coordinates
43.825279, -117.645835
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree during the takeoff initial climb.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Name
NELSON KYLE P
Address
1350 E WEBB HILL RD
City
UNION
State / Zip Code
WA 98592-9644
Country
United States
Analysis
The pilot said that he was departing from a private, soft, dirt airstrip. He asked the airstrip's owner for his departure recommendation, which was to stay on the left side of the 12-foot-wide airstrip. Immediately after liftoff, the left wing tip struck a tree branch, and the airplane rotated 90 degrees as it fell to the ground. The outboard 3 feet of the left wing was crushed by the impact and the fuselage, firewall, and rudder were wrinkled and/or bent.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX08CA291