What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 14, 2004, at 1730 MST, a Cessna 180A, N8956Q, registered to john fegaras, sustained substantial damage to both wing tips, left aileron, and tail while attempting takeoff. The pilot was enroute from tucson AZ to Colorado springs, co and stopped for fuel at Las Vegas Municipal Airport, Las Vegas, NM, where the accident occurred. After fueling, the pilot taxied with the intention of departing runway 20, but was unfamiliar with the airport and taxied instead to runway 14. Although he estimated winds at 230-240 degrees at 25 KTS, the pilot felt that he could successfully complete the takeoff. Upon departure he encountered strong crosswinds and attempted to lift off. As he lifted the tail, the aircraft was caught by a gust of wind and came to rest on the side of the runway upside down. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was filed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 14, 2004, AT 1730 MST, A CESSNA 180A, N8956Q, REGISTERED TO JOHN FEGARAS, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WING TIPS, LEFT AILERON, AND TAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE FROM TUCSON AZ TO COLORADO SPRINGS, CO AND STOPPED FOR FUEL AT LAS VEGAS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, LAS VEGAS, NM, WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER FUELING, THE PILOT TAXIED WITH THE INTENTION OF DEPARTING RUNWAY 20, BUT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT AND TAXIED INSTEAD TO RUNWAY 14. ALTHOUGH HE ESTIMATED WINDS AT 230-240 DEGREES AT 25 KTS, THE PILOT FELT THAT HE COULD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE TAKEOFF. UPON DEPARTURE HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG CROSSWINDS AND ATTEMPTED TO LIFT OFF. AS HE LIFTED THE TAIL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CAUGHT BY A GUST OF WIND AND CAME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY UPSIDE DOWN. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.