| Crash location | 34.484722°N, 117.826389°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Llano, CA
38.411858°N, 122.794435°W 387.0 miles away |
| Tail number | N9600P |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 27 Nov 2009 |
| Aircraft type | Piper PA-25-260 |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that he was taking off in a gusting 15-knot left crosswind with a glider in tow. He said he was holding the aileron control to the left during the takeoff roll, and, as the airplane lifted off, it rolled immediately to the right. The pilot then applied full left aileron, but was unable to maintain control of the airplane and he released the tow rope. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain causing substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The closest official weather reporting station, located 15 miles northwest of the accident site, indicated the winds were at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The private airport was not equipped with official weather reporting facilities. Post-accident examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions and failure to maintain lateral and directional control.