What happened
The Piper PA-18-150 was conducting a takeoff ground run from Runway 33 when it encountered turbulent wind conditions that caused the aircraft to leave the paved surface. During the initial phase of the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the right wing lifted prematurely. This asymmetric lift resulted in the left wing striking and dragging along the runway pavement.
Following the contact with the ground, the aircraft swerved sharply to the left and departed the runway. The flight crew had received a weather briefing prior to departure and was aware of the reported weather phenomena in the area. A Flight Service Station located on the airport reported that winds at the time of the incident were from 260 degrees at 7 knots. Although several dust devils were observed in the general vicinity during the day, none were directly observed on the airport grounds at the moment of the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's account of the takeoff roll and the environmental conditions present at the time. The pilot confirmed that he was aware of the weather briefing and the potential for turbulent wind phenomena in the area. The presence of dust devils in the surrounding region suggested localized atmospheric instability, even though direct observation of such vortices on the runway itself was not recorded by the Flight Service Station.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the incident were the encounter with turbulent wind conditions during the critical takeoff phase. The pilot's awareness of the weather briefing did not prevent the aircraft from experiencing asymmetric lift, which led to the left wing dragging and the subsequent departure from the runway. The swerving motion to the left was a direct result of the drag on the left side of the airframe.