Sheridan, WY, USA
N1106T
PIPER PA-11
Witnesses at the private dirt strip reported that it was windy during the time of the accident, though neither the pilot nor the witnesses were able to recall the exact wind velocity. The pilot reported that after clearing trees, the wind changed from a right quartering headwind and he was "blown out of the air." He was able to level the airplane before it impacted the ground and cartwheeled. The airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude abutting a tree. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane.
Repeated attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was taking off in a southbound direction from a private dirt strip about 16 miles southwest of the Sheridan County Airport (SHR), Sheridan, Wyoming. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that the airplane had cleared 50 foot trees and was about 100 feet above the ground, when the right quartering headwind changed and the airplane was "blown out of the air." The pilot was able to level the airplane before the airplane stuck the ground and cartwheeled, coming to rest in a nose down attitude at a tree. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot was not able to recall the wind velocity. Witnesses in the area reported that it was windy. Wind information recorded by SHR indicated that the winds were from 140 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing gusty wind conditions and likely windshear encounter and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall/mush.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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