On April 21, 1982, a Cessna 320A (registration N600JR) operated by Paul&lowell Branham was involved in an aviation accident near Paintsville, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach in wind shear conditions, which resulted in a stall and hard landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot encountered wind shear during final approach, resulting in a stall just above the runway threshold. The aircraft touched down hard with substantial damage to the wing spars and engine mounts.
What happened
The pilot reported encountering wind shear at approximately 300 feet from the approach end of Runway 31. To counteract the crosswind conditions, the pilot crabbed the aircraft left and applied right rudder. The surface wind was reported as 260 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
The aircraft stalled approximately six to ten feet above the runway surface. It touched down hard in a near-level attitude. The pilot noted that power was not used throughout the landing sequence.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the wing spars, a main gear attach bracket, and the engine mounts.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach in wind shear conditions, which resulted in a stall and hard landing.