Accident Details
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing to the southwest. Shortly after liftoff, the airplane encountered a gust of wind that, according to the pilot, "blew the aircraft sideways." Despite the pilot's control inputs, he was unable to recover, and the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low, right bank attitude.
Aircraft Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 37 knots. He stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. In his written statement, the pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had postponed the departure until wind conditions improved.