What happened
The student pilot was conducting a local training flight when he approached the airport at approximately 1,200 feet above ground level (AGL) to enter the downwind leg for landing. Upon entering the pattern, the aircraft encountered moderate to strong sink and strong southerly winds. The pilot estimated the wind velocity to be between 45 and 50 miles per hour at 1,000 feet AGL.
In an effort to penetrate the headwind component and maintain control, the pilot increased airspeed at the expense of altitude. He established the downwind leg at approximately 600 feet AGL. Due to the strong tailwind component on the downwind leg, the aircraft drifted significantly northward, causing the pilot to overshoot his intended reference point for the turn to base leg.
After initiating the turn to base, the aircraft continued to drift further north. Recognizing the low altitude and proximity to obstacles, the pilot executed a hard turn to align with the final approach course. However, the maneuver was initiated too late and from too low an altitude to safely clear the trees located north of the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the final approach phase. It was determined that the strong southerly winds created a significant drift factor, pushing the aircraft off its intended flight path. The pilot's decision to trade altitude for airspeed during the downwind leg reduced the margin for error during the subsequent turn.
Findings
The primary contributing factors were the loss of control due to wind conditions and the resulting inability to clear obstacles. The combination of strong winds, sink, and the resulting drift prevented the pilot from establishing a stable approach in time. The hard turn to final was insufficient to regain adequate altitude or alignment with the runway centerline before reaching the tree line.
Safety message
Pilots operating in strong wind conditions must account for increased ground speed and drift on downwind legs. It is critical to maintain sufficient altitude to allow for corrections and to avoid trading altitude for airspeed unless absolutely necessary, as this reduces the safety margin for obstacle clearance during the final approach.