Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to take off with a gusty quartering tailwind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was attempting a takeoff with a left quartering tailwind of 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The pilot said that as the airplane neared liftoff it began turning into the wind. The pilot applied full right rudder to maintain directional control but the rudder alone was not enough. He reported that he touched the right brake to assist in reacquiring directional control and at that moment the right main wheel separated and the airplane veered off the runway and came to rest on its nose and left wing. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing and horizontal stabilizer. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and the runway. He reported observing skid marks consistent with the wind picking up the left wing and the airplane veering off the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
The airplane was attempting a takeoff with a left quartering tailwind of 12 knots, gusting to 21. The pilot said that as the airplane neared liftoff it began turning into the wind. The pilot applied full right rudder to maintain directional control but the rudder alone was not enough. He reported that he touched the right brake to assist in reacquiring directional control, and at that moment, the right main wheel separated and the airplane veered off the runway and came to rest on its nose and left wing. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing and horizontal stabilizer. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and the runway. He reported observing skid marks consistent with the wind picking up the left wing and the airplane veering off the runway.