Las Vegas, NV, USA
N1996T
PIPER PA-28R-200
The flight instructor reported that, they configured the airplane for takeoff and noted there was a substantial crosswind. During takeoff, as the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane encountered a downdraft, and the flight instructor was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane descended and collided in the ditch located between the parallel runways. The airplane wing tips contacted the ground and the airplane spun around coming to rest in the opposite direction of travel. The right wing was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The flight instructor’s failure to compensate for a downdraft during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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