NTSB Factual Report

On April 2, 2002, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N43615, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed during takeoff in the vicinity of Crescent City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, a hangar received minor collision damage, and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was departing at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, during takeoff roll from a private grass strip, as soon as he brought the tail wheel off the runway in his rotation sequence, the right wing suddenly lifted, causing him to lose directional control. The aircraft veered left off the runway and into an adjacent hangar. He reported neither surface winds nor runway conditions were a factor in the runway excursion. The pilot reported damage to the hangar was limited to an entrance door and aluminum siding.

According to an FAA inspector, a postcrash inspection of the aircraft determined that there were no mechanical discrepancies that may have contributed to the accident. The pilot agreed to taking additional training in tail wheel configured aircraft prior to exercising further solo privileges.

NTSB Probable Cause

Tfhe failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during takeoff roll, resulting in an excursion off the left side of the runway and collision with an adjacent hangar.