What happened
On 9 August 2025, an aircraft RANS S-6ES Coyote II was involved in an incident during an attempted take-off from a field located near Bariūnai village in the Joniškis district of Lithuania. The pilot encountered a crosswind gust while accelerating for departure. This sudden wind condition caused the aircraft to yaw significantly to the side, leading it off the intended flight path and into a nearby ditch.
The impact resulted in damage to several components of the RANS S-6ES Coyote II. Specifically, the propeller, the front landing gear, and the engine cowlings were damaged during the collision with the ground. Despite the structural damage to the aircraft, the person piloting the aircraft remained uninjured.
The investigation
The Safety Investigation Authority of the Republic of Lithuania examined the circumstances surrounding the event. The authority established that the primary sequence of events was driven by the interaction between the aircraft and a crosswind gust during the critical take-off phase on an unprepared surface.