Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot failure to obtain enough airspeed for takeoff which resulted in a loss of aircraft control, and his failure to compensate for the crosswind conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot told a FAA safety inspector that he lifted off the ground too soon, caught a gust of wind, drifted off the side of the runway and hit some brush while still airborne. The pilot estimated the winds at 4-8 kts. The pilot's wife said that there was a gust of wind, and shortly after takeoff, her husband could not control the direction of the airplane. The pilot told the FAA that there was no mechanical malfunction, just his technique.
Source record
Factual narrative
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