This May 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Piper J3 Cub.
Location: Byron, Ga.
Injuries: 1 Minor.
Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to do a soft-field take off in a crosswind. He pitched the nose up. This resulted in limited foreward visibility, and he did not see that the airplane had drifted off the runway centerline. The airplane drifted to the right and into a fence next to the runway.
Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.