Bridgeport, TX, USA
N76WS
SUTTON WILLIAM J STITS PLAYMATE SA11A
After refueling the airplane, the pilot observed that the wind direction at the airport had changed about 90 degrees from when he had arrived about 30 minutes earlier. The pilot reported that the wind was now 8 to 10 mph and varying from 050 to 090 degrees, so he chose runway 36 for departure. When the airplane was about 10 to 15 ft above the ground, it made a descending left turn. The pilot stayed in the traffic pattern and then landed on the runway. The pilot checked the flight controls, and they appeared to respond correctly. He departed again, and, after becoming airborne, the airplane made another descending left turn. The airplane did not respond to the pilot's control inputs, so he reduced power and landed in the grass near the runway. The airplane slid across a taxiway and impacted a tree and fence at the airport perimeter. Aileron control continuity was established with no abnormalities noted. The airport's automated weather reporting station reported calm wind and lightning in the distance south of the airport about the time of departure. Based on the events, it's likely that, during the takeoff, the airplane encountered rapidly changing wind conditions due to a nearby storm.
On July 29, 2014, about 1305 central daylight time, a Stits Playmate SA11A airplane, N76WS, impacted terrain at the Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP), Bridgeport, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was departing XBP at the time of the accident.The pilot departed from an airport located about 25 miles southeast of XBP earlier, and the wind was 8-10 mph from 150 degrees. As he approached his destination airport, he observed the winds to be 8-10 mph from 150-170 degrees, and then conducted a normal landing on runway 18. After refueling the airplane and about 30 minutes after arriving, he planned to return to his original airport. He noticed the winds were now 8-10 mph and varying from 050 to 090 degrees. The pilot then selected runway 36 for departure. During the takeoff, when the airplane was 10-15 feet in the air, the airplane made a descending left turn. He then stayed in the traffic pattern and landed on the runway. The pilot checked the flight controls and the controls appeared to respond correctly. He departed the airport and after becoming airborne, the airplane made another descending left turn. The airplane did not respond to his control inputs, so he reduced power and landed in the grass near the runway. The airplane slid across a taxiway and impacted a tree and fence, at the airport perimeter. Examination of the airplane by the NTSB Investigator revealed substantial damage to the left and right wings, and fuselage. Control continuity of the ailerons was established with no abnormalities noted. The airplane's last annual condition inspection was completed on May 3, 2014, with an airplane total time of 409 hours. The pilot reported 2,790 total flight hours with 75 hours in the accident airplane. The automated weather reporting station located at XBP, at 1255 recorded calm winds, with lightning in the distance, south of the airport.
The pilot’s loss of airplane control during takeoff after encountering rapidly changing wind conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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