On 10 Oct 2019, a Piper PA18 150 operated by Harris Hill Soaring Corp was involved in an aviation accident near Big Flats, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper flight planning and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from wires during takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that during takeoff roll from an off-airport grass field, the left wing struck a guy wire, folded back, and the right wing struck another. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Accident Overview
A pilot conducted a takeoff from an off-airport grass field. During the takeoff roll, the left wing struck a guy wire, folded back, and the right wing subsequently struck another guy wire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Account
Prior to takeoff, the pilot consulted a mentor on best practices for takeoff and obstacle avoidance. During the takeoff roll, the pilot realized the planned flight path was "risky" and made a "ground track deviation." This deviation resulted in the left wing contacting a guy wire, followed by the right wing contacting another guy wire.
Damage Assessment
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings as a result of the wing strikes.