WRIGHTSVILLE, GA, USA
N4553J
PIPER PA-28R-180
The flight was taking off on a personal cross country flight when a gust of wind caught the airplane, forcing the nose up. The pilot pushed the nose down and the airplane impacted the ground along side the runway, causing substantial damage. The pilot reported winds were 10 knots gusting to 30 knots. A weather reporting station 45 miles away reported that the winds were from 270 degrees magnetic at 10 knots gusting to 21 knots about the time of the accident.
On May 18, 2008, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180; N4553J, was substantially damaged, when it impacted the ground during takeoff from runway 28 (2,560 by 75 feet) at The Farm Airport (01GE) in Wrightsville, Georgia. The pilot and his one passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight was departing at the time of the accident. The pilot reported winds were variable at 10 knots gusting to 30 knots. The winds, 45 miles away in Macon, Georgia, were reported being from 270 degrees magnetic at 13 knots gusting to 21 knots. The pilot said that after takeoff he added a second notch of flaps and retracted the gear. He said that at an altitude of 20-30 feet above the ground, a gust of wind caught the aircraft, and forced the nose up. The pilot then pushed the nose down and the aircraft was forced into bushes along the left side of the runway.
The pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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