What happened
A commercial pilot was conducting a Part 135 cross-country air taxi flight, departing from a remote mountain ridge. The takeoff area was extremely confined, measuring approximately 500 feet in length and only 15 feet in width. The pilot initiated the departure downhill with a 10 mph quartering tailwind.
Approximately 250 feet from the starting point, a crosswind pushed the airplane to the right. This drift caused the right wing to collide with a tree. Following the impact, the airplane veered further to the right, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. The aircraft sustained structural damage to the right wing.
The investigation
The pilot reported the sequence of events during the departure. No mechanical failure was cited prior to the collision. The primary factors were the confined takeoff area and wind conditions.
Findings
The accident occurred due to crosswind effects during a difficult mountain ridge departure. The limited space and terrain constraints contributed to the inability to maintain directional control after lift-off.