On June 23, 2004, a Bellanca 8GCBC (registration N88089) was involved in an aviation accident near Mankato, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff due to wind gusts. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The airplane sustained substantial damage after impacting a runway light and the ground shortly after takeoff, following reports of loss of control due to wind gusts.
What happened
The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it struck a runway light fixture and subsequently hit the ground shortly after initiating takeoff. The pilot reported that control of the airplane was lost during this phase of flight. According to the pilot's account, the loss of control occurred while encountering significant wind gusts. The wind conditions at the time were reported as coming from 60 degrees left of the runway heading, with sustained speeds of 25 knots and gusts reaching up to 34 knots.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident included the loss of control by the pilot during takeoff. The environmental conditions played a critical role, specifically the wind gusting to 34 knots which exceeded the pilot's ability to maintain directional control. The impact with the runway light and ground resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff due to wind gusts.