What happened
On September 9, 2011, a pilot was departing from a grass airstrip in Corvallis, Oregon, in an Air Creation Tanarg. The flight occurred under visual meteorological conditions with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds at 350 degrees at 15 knots.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot encountered gusting crosswind conditions. The pilot was aware that a line of irrigation pipes, supported by metal rotation wheels measuring ten feet in diameter, was located approximately five yards from the edge of the airstorp. The pilot intended to allow the N5628K to weather vane into the crosswind to remain over the airstrip. However, following liftoff, the wind shifted, causing the aircraft to fly into one of the ten-foot support wheels. The pilot was able to avoid more significant impact, resulting in 1 minor injury and 0 fatalities.
In subsequent statements, the pilot noted that he was in a rush and acknowledged that he should have relocated to an adjacent field away from the irrigation system.