Air Creation TANARG accident near Corvallis, Oregon, September 9, 2011
On September 9, 2011 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Air Creation TANARG (weight-shift aircraft), registered N5628K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Corvallis, Oregon (Dunning Vineyards airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while taking off with a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2011 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corvallis, Oregon · Dunning Vineyards · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Creation TANARG · all TANARGs on the register
- Registration
- N5628K · registry record · serial T06007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who was taking off in a powered-lift, weight-shift controlled, light sport aircraft, was departing from a grass airstrip in gusting crosswind conditions. He was aware that, about five yards from the edge of the airstrip, there was a line of irrigation pipes supported by ten foot diameter metal rotation wheels, but he thought that allowing the aircraft to weathervane into the crosswind would keep him over the airstrip. Therefore, after liftoff he allowed the aircraft to weather vane toward the irrigation pipes. Soon thereafter the wind shifted, and the aircraft flew into one of the ten foot support wheels before the pilot could take corrective action. In the recommendations section of the NTSB Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that he was in a rush, and that he should have taken the time to move over to an adjacent field that was away from the irrigation system.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 239 hours in all; 239 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 17, 2010
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 9, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OG01 Corvallis OR at 8:30 pm
- Destination: KCVO Corvallis OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 1,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.