Accident Details
A pilot and three passengers departed from a 1,600-foot private airfield in a STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) modified single-engine airplane. According to a statement to the FAA inspector, the pilot was performing a short field maximum performance takeoff. The airplane encountered wind gusts that caused the left wing tip to contact and drag along the ground. In the pilot's written statement, he said that immediately after rotation, the airplane experienced two strong gusts of wind, which led to the wing contacting the ground and the airplane nosing over.
Examination Findings
Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed it was in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude. The engine and propeller were twisted approximately 90 degrees from the fuselage. Both the left and right wings sustained extensive damage. The fuselage, about mid-span, was crumpled and bent toward the cabin roof at a 45-degree angle. Both main landing wheels were torn from the landing gear.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the crash. The STOL manufacturer's website indicates that a short field takeoff is performed with 20 degrees of flaps, full throttle, lifting off at 35 knots, leveling off, and then turning out after reaching 45 knots.