This April 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Taylorcraft BC12-D. Injuries: None. Location: Southbridge, Mass. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: As the pilot raised the tail of his tailwheel-equipped airplane during the takeoff roll, two successive gusts of wind caused the plane to weathervane to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder but the plane did not respond and continued off the side of the runway. The pilot, expecting that he would roll onto the grass, reduced the power to idle. As he rolled onto the grass, a gust of wind lifted the tail higher and the propeller struck the ground and the airplane went over onto its back, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and tail. The reported weather at a nearby airport included winds from 290° at 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting wind conditions.
For more information: NTSB.gov
I saw the same thing happen to a Beech 18. The winds were 30 degrees from the left, 20 with occasional gusts to 40! I was in disbelief that the pilot was going to takeoff with that chance of a strong crosswind gust. There is a few seconds of minimal rudder control with the Beech 18 as the tail wheel comes off the ground from the tail wheel lock position. Just as the tailwheel broke ground, that’s when a strong gust of crosswind then turned the Beech about 25 degrees to the left. Instead of stopping the plane, the pilot elected to continue his almost out of control takeoff run. He over compensated and ended up accelerating in the dirt off the right side of the runway. There is a about a 6 inch lip on the cross runway midfield. The Beech hit that lip, the pilot appeared to nose up too high to “Make” the plane fly rather than head for the sand traps in the nearby golf course. The plane attained about 50 feet altitude, did a one turn right spin, and flopped back on the golf course wings and fuselage level. Both engines bounced off the wings. There was a cloud of dust. About a minute later the door opened and the pilot exited with legs shaking. The airport fire trucks were rolling. That was something to remember. It was about 1970 in Reno, Nevada.