What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) The 97 hour non-instrument rated, private pilot lost control of the tailwheel equipped airplane during takeoff from runway 13. The pilot reported that prior to departure he observed aircraft taking off and landing to the north and to the south. He then observed the wind sock in the `calm' position, and taxied the airplane to the approach end of runway 13 for takeoff. During the takeoff roll the airplane encountered a gust of wind from 120 degrees, which `lifted the airplane off the ground prematurely.' The airplane `stalled;' subsequently, the left wing contacted the ground first and the airplane ground looped. After the accident occurred the pilot determined that the windsock had been stuck against its supoort pole and was not providing an accurate indication of wind speed and direction. The pilot stated that the wind was from 120 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 15 knots at the time of the time of the accident. Additionally, the pilot had accumulated a total of 7.7 hours in the airplane at the time of the accident. (-23) on take-off aircraft didn't have enough air speed to sustain flight. Pilot lost control of aircraft. Substantial damage to prop, left wing and fuselage. No damage on ground or persons. No NMAC. No fire.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) THE 97 HOUR NON-INSTRUMENT RATED, PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 13. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE HE OBSERVED AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF AND LANDING TO THE NORTH AND TO THE SOUTH. HE THEN OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK IN THE `CALM' POSITION, AND TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 13 FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND FROM 120 DEGREES, WHICH `LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE GROUND PREMATURELY.' THE AIRPLANE `STALLED;' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND FIRST AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSOCK HAD BEEN STUCK AGAINST ITS SUPOORT POLE AND WAS NOT PROVIDING AN ACCURATE INDICATION OF WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 7.7 HOURS IN THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. (-23) ON TAKE-OFF AIRCRAFT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH AIR SPEED TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO PROP, LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE. NO DAMAGE ON GROUND OR PERSONS. NO NMAC. NO FIRE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.