The closest I’ve come to crashing in 10,000 hrs was on take off from Carlsbad, NM with a thunderstorm approaching, a fast moving pseudo-squall line overhead (bow wave/shelf clouds), and a warning from a biz jet that had departed a minute before about a 40 kt shear on departure. (The usual three in the “chain of events” before an accident.)
As we had “Getoutofthere-itis” (we wanted to get out of there before the storm hit and locked us in for the night), we ignored the warning signs. We took off with a strong (25 kt) right crosswind. About 100 feet off the ground, the wind sheared and we slammed back on the runway, hard, right gear first as we slipped it on.
Good thing I had told the not-as-experienced pilot to NOT retract the gear for this takeoff. (I’m surprised we didn’t punch the gear through the wing. (Thanks, Glasair.))
Lifted off again, stayed in ground effect this time, crabbing over the runway until 100 KIAS, ready to kick rudder if we slammed back onto the runway again.
Once at 100, we were able to climb out as normal, away from the storm.
Whew. I’m not going to make that mistake again.