What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 2 July, 2016, at approximately 1900, a Piper PA-22 (N8130D) attempted to takeoff from a grass airstrip in rockingham county VA. As the aircraft started down the runway at the top of the hill, the plane caught a gust of wind on the left side causing it to go airborne. The aircraft veered to the right of the runway catching a fence post. The pilot tried to get the plane back on the runway, but ran out of room, so he turned the plane left toward the open field. The plane hit the ground, and skidded into a tree. The pilot sustained severe injuries and the passenger sustained minor injuries. At that time the state police and FAA were notified.
As the FAA filed it
ON 2 JULY, 2016, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900, A PIPER PA-22 (N8130D) ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS AIRSTRIP IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY VA. AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED DOWN THE RUNWAY AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, THE PLANE CAUGHT A GUST OF WIND ON THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING IT TO GO AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CATCHING A FENCE POST. THE PILOT TRIED TO GET THE PLANE BACK ON THE RUNWAY, BUT RAN OUT OF ROOM, SO HE TURNED THE PLANE LEFT TOWARD THE OPEN FIELD. THE PLANE HIT THE GROUND, AND SKIDDED INTO A TREE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. AT THAT TIME THE STATE POLICE AND FAA WERE NOTIFIED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.