According to the pilot, “with a crosswind at 10-plus knots, I attempted a takeoff on runway 15. After the tailwheel had lifted but before takeoff, a [wind] gust suddenly drove the aircraft towards the right edge of the runway. Rather then incur a ground loop for the amount of correction necessary, I decelerated straight ahead, whereupon I hit what I later found out was a large runway sign off the side of the runway in the grassy area.” The pilot added, “I should have requested runway 6, which was almost aligned with the wind.” Additionally, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.
August 14, 2007, Nantucket, Mass., Waco Classic Aircraft Corp YMF-5
According to the pilot, with a crosswind at 10-plus knots, I attempted a takeoff on runway 15. After the tailwheel had lifted but before takeoff, a [wind] gust suddenly drove the aircraft towards the right edge of the runway. Rather then incur a ground loop for the amount of correction necessary, I decelerated straight ahead, whereupon I hit what I later found out was a large runway sign off the side of the runway in the grassy area. The pilot added, I should have requested runway 6, which was almost aligned with the wind. Additionally, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot attempting takeoff in strong crosswind conditions was driven off the runway by a sudden wind gust.
- To avoid a ground loop, the pilot decelerated straight ahead, hitting a runway sign in the grassy area.
- The pilot acknowledged selecting the wrong runway for the prevailing wind and confirmed no mechanical malfunctions.
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