Skykits CORP SAVANNAH VGW accident near Bison, South Dakota, July 7, 2010
On July 7, 2010, a Skykits CORP SAVANNAH VGW, registered N391EU, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bison, South Dakota (Bison Municipal Airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane after encountering a gust of wind while taking off with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2010
- Place
- Bison, South Dakota · Bison Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Skykits CORP SAVANNAH VGW · all SAVANNAH VGWs on the register
- Registration
- N391EU · registry record · serial 08-11-51-786
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he applied right aileron to correct for a 9-knot crosswind during takeoff. The airplane encountered a gust of wind just after liftoff about 5 feet above the runway. The pilot stated that he "over-reacted" in applying right aileron and lowering the nose of the aircraft. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway, where it descended into 30- to 36-inch-tall grass. The right wing tip contacted the ground followed by the rest of the airplane, causing substantial damage to the right wing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,463 hours in all; 410 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,463 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 48 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 1,235 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6V5 Bison SD
- Destination: MLS Miles City MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.