Amateur-built MEYER-LEGACY accident near Burns, Oregon, June 25, 2010
On June 25, 2010 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built MEYER-LEGACY, registered N29MM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Burns, Oregon (Burns Municipal Aiport airport). It was a personal 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, resulting in a loss of lateral and directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2010 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burns, Oregon · Burns Municipal Aiport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MEYER-LEGACY
- Registration
- N29MM · no longer on the register · serial L2K-197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane was at the departure airport to be painted. After the job was completed, he added fuel and taxied to runway 30. He applied full engine power and began the takeoff roll in line with his normal procedure. Immediately after the airplane lifted off the runway surface the right wing dropped and the pilot applied a full control stick deflection in an effort to recover. As the wings regained a level attitude he eased the left control stick deflection and the right wing dropped again. The right wing contacted the runway surface and the airplane impacted the ground 20 degrees to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot opined that the airplane had encountered a strong wind, akin to a dust devil. He reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. As a result of the accident, the airplane incurred damage to the engine mounts, flaps, and left side fuselage. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for the departure airport, issued at the time of the accident, reported winds from 170 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 32 knots with squall conditions.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Dust devil/whirlwind › Response/compensation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,287 hours in all; 65 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNO Burns OR at 10:40 pm
- Destination: RLD Richland WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 20 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:28 pm from BNO
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.
Other NTSB records under N29MM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.