On May 2, 1997, at 1554 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 180, N74806, crashed during takeoff at the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On May 2, 1997, at 1710, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was departing runway 36 at Talkeetna. A crosswind from the left varied from a headwind to a tailwind. During the takeoff roll, the tail of the airplane began to swing to the right and a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The airplane ground looped to the left and the airplane ran off the left edge of the runway. The right main landing gear strut collapsed and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest partially up on its nose and received damage to the right landing gear attach point, the right wing, and propeller. At 1550, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Talkeetna was reporting in part: Wind, 245 degrees (magnetic) at 10 knots; visibility, 60 statute miles; clouds, 4,000 feet scattered, 20,000 feet broken; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 29 degrees F; altimeter, 29.96 inHg.