Aviat A-1C-200 N41WY

Summary

On 24 December 2013 at about 21:10 local time, a Aviat A-1C-200 registered N41WY was involved in an accident near Laural, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 December 2013 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Laural, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Laurel Muni (6S8)

Coordinates

45.7058, -108.7567

Aircraft

Aviat A-1C-200

Registration

N41WY

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Laural → Laural

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA076

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a gusting crosswind, which resulted in the collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction when the door popped open.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during takeoff with a gusting crosswind, he was surprised by the door popping open as the right wing lifted up. He attempted to level the wings but was unsuccessful. The left wing tip touched the grass beside the runway, the airplane pivoted around and the right landing gear collapsed as it made contact with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and to the fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.