On March 27, 1937, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration G-CAUD) operated by G. A. Stephens was involved in an aviation accident near Bancroft, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the aircraft being caught by strong winds during takeoff, which led to a loss of directional control and departure from the runway. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft departed its intended path during takeoff after encountering a strong gust of wind, resulting in significant structural damage while both occupants remained uninjured.
What happened
During the initial phase of departure, the aircraft encountered an unexpected gust of wind. This sudden change in airflow caused the airframe to swerve and veer away from the paved runway surface. The vehicle continued moving off the designated area until it came to a complete stop. Upon inspection, the structural integrity of the plane was compromised to such an extent that it was declared damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, both individuals on board sustained no injuries during the incident.
Findings
The official investigation identified strong winds as the primary factor leading to the loss of control. The gust encountered immediately after liftoff disrupted the aircraft's stability, forcing it off the runway.
Probable cause
The accident was caused by the aircraft being caught by strong winds during takeoff, which led to a loss of directional control and departure from the runway.
An X-AIR HAWK ultralight crashed in Chonburi, Thailand, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. The accident was caused by deteriorated wing fabric and…
A Challenger II Special ultralight aircraft (U-B23) landed off-runway at Pai Airport, Mae Hong Son, on September 17, 2024, due to a gust of wind. No injuries…
The Polish aviation safety authority is investigating a serious incident involving an AT-3R100 aircraft that occurred on September 2, 2024. The investigation…
A SZD-48-3 glider suffered damage when its left wing struck a ground obstacle during a low final approach at EPWK on June 20, 2025. The pilot was uninjured.
A 39-year-old skydiver died after a hard landing near Leszno on May 1, 2026. The PKBWL preliminary report indicates the fatal impact resulted from a late,…
A student pilot crashed an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider into the airfield fence during a solo training flight on June 6, 2026. The pilot was uninjured, but the…