What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated that winds were calm at the Crossville, TN airport (csv). Pilot lifted off and felt as though the aircraft was in a stiff cross wind. The actual weather was calm winds, less than 3 knots. Pilot previously noted control problems when winds were high and gusty. Pilot stated at approximately 50 feet he elected to abort takeoff. Pilot stated he wanted to land in grassy area next to paved runway. Aircraft right wing struck ground and aircraft semi-cartwheeled. Aircraft substantially damaged and pilot suffered cracked vertebrae and face lacerations. On scene investigation revealed that one side of the rudder cable and spring was disconnected, at rudder. All other controls had continuity. Fuel was present and engine appeared to be in good working condition.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED THAT WINDS WERE CALM AT THE CROSSVILLE, TN AIRPORT (CSV). PILOT LIFTED OFF AND FELT AS THOUGH THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A STIFF CROSS WIND. THE ACTUAL WEATHER WAS CALM WINDS, LESS THAN 3 KNOTS. PILOT PREVIOUSLY NOTED CONTROL PROBLEMS WHEN WINDS WERE HIGH AND GUSTY. PILOT STATED AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET HE ELECTED TO ABORT TAKEOFF. PILOT STATED HE WANTED TO LAND IN GRASSY AREA NEXT TO PAVED RUNWAY. AIRCRAFT RIGHT WING STRUCK GROUND AND AIRCRAFT SEMI-CARTWHEELED. AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND PILOT SUFFERED CRACKED VERTEBRAE AND FACE LACERATIONS. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE SIDE OF THE RUDDER CABLE AND SPRING WAS DISCONNECTED, AT RUDDER. ALL OTHER CONTROLS HAD CONTINUITY. FUEL WAS PRESENT AND ENGINE APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.