What happened
During the takeoff roll on runway 13R, the aircraft began to swerve sharply to the left as it approached tailwheel lift-off speed. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, causing the aircraft to leave the paved surface and strike a dirt bank adjacent to the runway. This impact resulted in significant damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that the left main tire had lost pressure during the takeoff roll. Both the pilot and the aircraft operator confirmed this loss of pressure but were unable to determine the specific mechanical cause or reason for the deflation. No other obvious mechanical failures were identified in the initial narrative.
Findings
The swerving was directly attributed to the sudden loss of inflation in the left main landing gear tire. Weather conditions at the time of the accident, according to the 2330 report, included a light wind from 040 degrees at 5 knots, which did not contribute to the directional instability.
loss of tire pressure was the primary factor leading to the loss of control during the critical takeoff phase.