NTSB Factual Report

The student pilot receiving instruction initiated the take-off roll from the 6,000-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway. The single-engine tail wheel equipped airplane began to veer to the left. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and announced to the student pilot that he had the controls. The 8,000-hour flight instructor applied full right rudder and retarded the throttle to idle in an attempt to regain directional control of the vintage airplane. The airplane then lifted-off the runway to about 3 feet of altitude and continued a left uncommanded turn for about 180 degrees prior to impacting the ground moving laterally perpendicular to the take-off flight path. The flight instructor and the 8-hour student pilot were not injured. A Federal Aviation Administrator inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the landing gear collapsed and the left wing strut was destroyed. The weather the airport was reported as winds from 070 degrees at 7 knots; however, the flight instructor reported that upon exiting the aircraft, he noted that a 10 to 15 knot crosswind prevailed at the time of the mishap.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the crosswind.