Incident Overview
A pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings in a single-engine airplane when the aircraft encountered turbulent conditions shortly after takeoff. According to the pilot, the sky was clear and the wind was blowing directly down the runway at about 5 to 10 knots during the takeoff roll. However, as the airplane reached an altitude of 50 feet, the pilot experienced turbulent updrafts and downdrafts that made controlling the airplane difficult.
Sequence of Events
The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff but the airplane encountered an updraft that turned the aircraft approximately 90 degrees to the right, pushing it over a heavily wooded area adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the right wing stalled and the airplane collided with trees in a near-vertical nose-down attitude. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer.
Meteorological Conditions
Winds reported at an airport located eight miles away were from 160 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot noted that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Damage Assessment
The damage to the aircraft was described as substantial, specifically to the wings and vertical stabilizer. No further details on the extent of damage were provided.