On June 9, 1989, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N3937Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Midland, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft due to gusty winds during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported that the aircraft encountered strong gusty winds immediately after advancing power for takeoff, causing it to go out of control and flip over.
What happened
The pilot reported that the aircraft encountered gusty wind conditions immediately after advancing power for takeoff. Subsequently, the aircraft became airborne and went out of control. The pilot stated that the wind blew the aircraft sideways, then it nosed into the ground and flipped over. The wind was reported to be from 120 degrees at 22 knots gusting to 28 knots.
Findings
The incident occurred during the takeoff phase of flight. The primary factor contributing to the loss of control was the gusty wind conditions encountered immediately after liftoff.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft due to gusty winds during takeoff.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…