On July 4, 2004, a Grumman AA-1 (registration N6241L) was involved in an aviation accident near Gordonville, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's premature lift-off and his failure to abort the takeoff. Contributing factors were the soft and muddy runway conditions and the unfavorable winds. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported crosswind and soft runway conditions during takeoff from a 3,000-foot turf runway. The airplane became airborne, experienced a stall warning, then a gust caused nose-down, left wing struck water, and airplane came to rest inverted.
Accident Sequence
The pilot of a single-engine airplane reported that during takeoff from a 3,000-foot turf runway, there was an "almost direct crosswind." The runway was reported as "soft," leading the pilot to expect a longer than normal takeoff roll and to use the "soft field" takeoff procedure. The pilot stated that acceleration was "a bit slower than he was used to, but seemed OK." Approximately halfway down the runway, the airplane became airborne, accompanied by a "short squawk from the stall warning system." The pilot then "let off some back pressure, and the airplane touched down for a few feet before getting airborne again."
Pilot Report
As the airplane passed a large tree at the departure end of the runway, the pilot reported that a "gust of wind" caught the right wing, causing the nose to dip down. Subsequently, the left wing impacted water before the airplane came to rest in an inverted position in a lake.