NTSB Factual Report

On June 24, 2015, at 1800 eastern daylight time, N84927, an Aeronca 7AC, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a tree on takeoff from Lufker Airport (49N) East Moriches, New York. The sport pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot and registered to a private company. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot stated that he had flown in and out of 49N on several occasions and was familiar with the airport. He said he departed to the north with a left crosswind. Once the airplane became airborne it weather-vaned into the wind and veered to the left of the runway. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane's left wing "grazed" a tree. The airplane then nosed over and impacted the ground, separating the engine from the airframe. Both occupants exited the airplane and there was no post-impact fire. The pilot said there were no pre-mishap mechanical problems with the airplane or engine. Though he wasn't sure why he was unable to avoid colliding with the trees, he did say that it was "probably a combo of not doing enough things" to maintain directional control.

Weather at Brookhaven Airport (HWV), Shirley, New York, about 5 miles west of 49N, was reported as wind from 300 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 28 degrees C, dewpoint 13 degrees C, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.97 inches Hg.

The pilot held a sport pilot certificate and reported a total of 208 flight hours, of which, 12 hours were in the accident airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taking off in a crosswind, which resulted in a collision with a tree.