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:
- During a crosswind takeoff attempt, a sudden wind gust forced the aircraft off the runway, leading to a collision with a large sign.
- The pilot intentionally decelerated straight ahead to prevent a ground loop, opting not to attempt a significant correction.
- The pilot acknowledged an error in runway selection, stating they should have used a runway better aligned with the wind.
- No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported for the aircraft involved in the incident.
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