What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot of N3779T initiated a take off from Short Creek (8TN7), runway 25, shortly after a rain shower. Just before and during rotation, he experienced a strong crosswind from the right. In spite of control inputs, he was unable to keep it from drifting to the left. The left main landing gear struck a stack of three painted tires that were used as side runway markings. On climb out, the pilot cycled the gear once up then once down. With only the nose gear and right main gear indicating down and locked, he returned and landed on runway 25. During the landing role, he was able to maintain directional control, even though the left main collapsed. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There were no injuries.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT OF N3779T INITIATED A TAKE OFF FROM SHORT CREEK (8TN7), RUNWAY 25, SHORTLY AFTER A RAIN SHOWER. JUST BEFORE AND DURING ROTATION, HE EXPERIENCED A STRONG CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT. IN SPITE OF CONTROL INPUTS, HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT FROM DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A STACK OF THREE PAINTED TIRES THAT WERE USED AS SIDE RUNWAY MARKINGS. ON CLIMB OUT, THE PILOT CYCLED THE GEAR ONCE UP THEN ONCE DOWN. WITH ONLY THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR INDICATING DOWN AND LOCKED, HE RETURNED AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 25. DURING THE LANDING ROLE, HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, EVEN THOUGH THE LEFT MAIN COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.