On 25 Jul 2012, a FAIRCHILD M-62A was involved in an aviation accident near Albion, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taking off in gusting wind conditions. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane veered left due to a gust of wind. Despite attempts to realign, it collided with a soybean field. Post-accident examination showed substantial damage to the firewall and engine mounts, with no preexisting mechanical anomalies.
Incident Details
The pilot of an airplane stated that shortly after takeoff, the aircraft veered to the left due to a gust of wind. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway centerline but was unsuccessful, resulting in a collision with a soybean field. The pilot reported a quartering tailwind around the time of the accident.
Weather Conditions
Meteorological reports from a nearby airport indicated winds from 210 degrees at 6 knots approximately six minutes before the accident. The pilot's account of a quartering tailwind aligns with these reported conditions.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the airplane's firewall and engine mounts. The examination found no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, the pilot did not report any mechanical issues prior to the accident.
Contributing factors
Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotResponse/compensation