IAD97LA059

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with tree(s) and a ditch.

The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff roll in a crosswind, he held left aileron control into the crosswind. He took out the correction as the airspeed approached 50 knots in order to rotate. Shortly thereafter, the left wing started to lift, and he applied some aileron and rudder correction. However, the airplane became airborne briefly, veered 30 degrees to the right of the runway, and settled. The pilot attempted to realign the flight path with the runway. Also, he tried to clear a 6 foot tall tree (beside the runway), but the airplane struck the top of the tree, descended, struck a ditch, and then nosed over. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported to be from 330 degrees at 15 gusting 25 knots. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 31, 1997, at 0855 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N73455, was substantially damaged when it veered off the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch during takeoff from the Blue Ash Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff roll, he held left aileron control into the crosswind. He then took out the correction as the airspeed approached 50 knots, in order to rotate. When the left wing began to lift, he added some rudder and aileron correction, but the airplane became airborne briefly, veered 30 degrees to the right, then settled back on the runway. He stated that his ground speed was about 60 to 70 mph, and that there was not enough runway left to abort the takeoff. He attempted to clear a 6 foot tall tree, but the airplane struck the tree, descended, collided with a ditch, then nosed over. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 6, just before lift off speed, the airplane became airborne. He stated that there was about a 90 degree crosswind, so he corrected with aileron and rudder, but the airplane exited the runway to the right, clipped some bushes, struck a ditch and nosed over. According to the FAA Inspector, the reported winds at the time of the accident were from 330 degrees at 15 knots, with wind gusts to 25 knots. The FAA Inspector also reported that examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that when he obtained a weather briefing, the winds were 360 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, but he observed the winds to be actually about 340 degrees varying to occasionally about 320 degrees, a quartering tailwind for runway 6. -