Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot stated that prior to initiating the takeoff, he observed that the two windsocks located on the runway indicated a crosswind. Just after lifting off, the pilot felt a gust of wind from the left, and the airplane was pushed right towards a cornfield located next to the runway. The right wingtip impacted cornstalks, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the field, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both left and right wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA475