What happened
The pilot was departing from a 700-foot long grass strip in a tail-wheel equipped airplane, which featured tundra tires, intended to transport a passenger to a hunting area. During a slight right turn, the aircraft climbed to approximately 100 feet above the ground. The pilot reported that a gust of wind suddenly pushed the tail of the airplane downward.
Following this gust, the aircraft entered a descent with a low nose and right wing attitude. During this descent, the plane passed through two strands of high-voltage electrical wires, and the pilot observed sparks coming from the right wingtip. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground in a small grove of trees located 0.2 miles from the end of the runway. A postcrash fire occurred following the impact.
While the pilot described the wind conditions as light and variable, weather data from an airport located 0.5 miles northeast of the site showed winds of 9 knots one half hour before the accident. One half hour after the accident, winds had increased to 15 knots with gusts reaching 32 knots. Local residents also reported strong, gusty winds in the area.
The investigation
Investigators found no mechanical malfunction of the engine. Additionally, there was no evidence indicating that the pilot had obtained an official weather briefing prior to the flight.