On September 9, 1993, a Cessna 180 (registration N4719B) was involved in an aviation accident near Watkins, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to a shift in wind direction. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot lost directional control during the initial ground roll on runway 08 due to shifting winds, causing the aircraft to come to rest inverted at the runway edge.
What happened
During the initial ground roll for takeoff on runway 08, the pilot reported that the wind was blowing from 020 degrees to 040 degrees relative to the runway heading. The wind speed was recorded at 14 knots with gusts reaching 17 knots. As the aircraft accelerated and the tail section lifted off the ground, the wind direction shifted abruptly to 360 degrees. This sudden change in wind vector made it impossible for the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane. The aircraft departed the paved surface and came to rest inverted at the edge of the runway.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the shift in wind direction during the critical phase of takeoff. The crosswind component changed significantly as the tail lifted, exceeding the pilot's ability to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway centerline. This loss of control resulted in the airplane overturning.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to a shift in wind direction.