| Crash location | 38.498333°N, 78.893055°W |
| Nearest city | Harrisonburg, VA
38.449569°N, 78.868916°W 3.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N8130D |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 02 Jul 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 22-160 |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot/owner of the single-engine tailwheel airplane was attempting to depart from a private turf runway. During the takeoff, a gust of wind contacted the airplane from the left side, and it veered to the right. The airplane's right wing and propeller then struck a fence post. The pilot tried to fly the airplane back to the runway, but it impacted terrain and slid into a tree. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The recorded weather at an airport located about 15 miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, included a left quartering headwind at 9 knots.
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.