No fatalities

11 Apr 2010: PIPER PA-18-150 — Rapid River Aviation, LLC — Taft, CA

Taft, CA, United States

On 11 Apr 2010, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by Rapid River Aviation, LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Taft, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's full flight control corrective actions were inadequate to counter a strong wind gust during takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot lost control during takeoff when a strong southeasterly wind gust lifted the right wing, causing the airplane to roll over and come to rest inverted with substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during takeoff from runway 07, just as the airplane became airborne, a strong southeasterly gust of wind struck the aircraft. The pilot stated that despite his efforts to maintain control, the gust lifted the right wing, causing the airplane to roll over. The engine was at full power at the time, and the pilot's application of full flight control corrective actions proved inadequate to counter the gust during this critical phase of flight.

Aftermath

The airplane became uncontrollable and came to rest upside down. The wings were broken and the vertical stabilizer was crushed. The airport manager witnessed the event and corroborated the pilot's description of the wind, estimating its speed between 25 and 35 mph.

Pilot Experience

The pilot indicated familiarity with the airplane's flight characteristics. He had provided approximately 915 hours of flight instruction in this same model, including 30 hours flown during the 90 days preceding the mishap.

Probable cause

The pilot's full flight control corrective actions were inadequate to counter a strong wind gust during takeoff.

Contributing factors

Causes

Capability exceededLateral/bank control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome