FELTON, CA, USA
N511FL
PIPER PA-28-140
DURING THE PREFLIGHT OF THE ACFT, THE PLT SAID HE OBSERVED THE WIND CONDITIONS AT THE AIRPORT AS FROM THE NORTH AT ABOUT '5 TO 10 KTS, WHICH INDICATED A LEFT CROSSWIND. THE AIRPORT IS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDED BY PINE TREES WHICH AVERAGE ABOUT 60 FT IN HEIGHT. PLT SAID THAT HE WAS CLIMBING AT ABOUT '80 MPH' FOLLOWING A NORMAL SHORTFIELD TAKEOFF WHEN THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A 'VIOLENT DOWN DRAFT' AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE DOWNDEAFT ROLLED THE ACFT TO A 90 DEGREE LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE AND HE COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL PRIOR TO CONTACTING TREES OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. GROUND WITNESSES ON THE AIRPORT SAID THAT THE WINGS ON THE AIRPORT PROPER WERE 'ALMOST CALM', HOWEVER AT THE TREE TOP LEVEL WERE FROM THE LEFT AT '10 KTS WITH GUST TO 15 KTS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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