What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On September 2, 1999, approx. 0800 mountain daylight time, an Aeronca chief (11AC), N86096, was substantially damaged during takeoff when the left wing strut impacted an airport sign at Heber ciy municipal airport, Heber city, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned/operated by the pilot under title 14 CFR part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the pilot continued his flight to pinedale, Wyoming. The pilot reported that during the takeoff, the airplane struck an airport taxiway sign. When he had the airplane examined in pinedale, a mechanic determined that the left aft strut and the left aft wing spar needed to be replaced. The pilot did not report the accident until September 10, 1999. (-23) no official NWS weather available for this airport. Pilot said weather was gusty. FBO manager said wind was gusty to 35 knots with direction variable. Block 31 flight times are pilot estimates. During takeoff gust of wind pushed aircraft into a PAPI (P4L) light to the left of runway 21 thresho ld, it is 89 1/2 feet off the runway centerline. The PAPI lights extend 4 feet above the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1999, APPROX. 0800 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AERONCA CHIEF (11AC), N86096, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF WHEN THE LEFT WING STRUT IMPACTED AN AIRPORT SIGN AT HEBER CIY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, HEBER CITY, UTAH. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT IN THE AIRPLANE, WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED/OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHICH WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED, AND THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS FLIGHT TO PINEDALE, WYOMING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN AIRPORT TAXIWAY SIGN. WHEN HE HAD THE AIRPLANE EXAMINED IN PINEDALE, A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT AFT STRUT AND THE LEFT AFT WING SPAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT THE ACCIDENT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 10, 1999. (-23) NO OFFICIAL NWS WEATHER AVAILABLE FOR THIS AIRPORT. PILOT SAID WEATHER WAS GUSTY. FBO MANAGER SAID WIND WAS GUSTY TO 35 KNOTS WITH DIRECTION VARIABLE. BLOCK 31 FLIGHT TIMES ARE PILOT ESTIMATES. DURING TAKEOFF GUST OF WIND PUSHED AIRCRAFT INTO A PAPI (P4L) LIGHT TO THE LEFT OF RUNWAY 21 THRESHO LD, IT IS 89 1/2 FEET OFF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE PAPI LIGHTS EXTEND 4 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.