Piper PA-28R-180 N3779T accident near Dover, Tennessee

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with an object and a landing gear collapse during the subsequent landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was taking off on a turf runway; during the takeoff roll, about the time of rotation, a gust of wind pushed the airplane into a stack of tires that marked the runway’s left boundary. The pilot completed the takeoff; however, the left main landing gear had sustained damage during the impact with the tires. The pilot subsequently returned and landed on the same runway. During the landing, the left side of the airplane settled onto the ground due to the damaged left main landing gear, which resulted in ground contact that substantially damaged the left wing. Postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at an airport about 30 miles northeast of the accident site was from 250 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots about the time of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA232 for the full record.