On November 22, 1982, a Bellanca 7ECA (registration N9611S) operated by Robert Methven was involved in an aviation accident near Erie, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a wheel landing in gusty winds, which resulted in the aircraft striking barrels beside the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempted a wheel landing in variable winds but the aircraft veered right upon tailwheel contact. After correcting and initiating a go-around, it struck barrels and nosed over.
What happened
The pilot executed a wheel landing on runway 33 under windy conditions. The wind was variable from 360 degrees at 15 knots with gusts reaching 25 knots. As the tailwheel made contact with the pavement, the aircraft began to veer sharply to the right. The pilot applied left control input to correct the deviation and immediately initiated a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a group of barrels located beside the runway and subsequently nosed over.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the incident were the variable wind conditions and the loss of directional control during the landing roll. The gusting crosswind component likely exacerbated the veering tendency common in tailwheel aircraft, leading to the collision with ground obstacles.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a wheel landing in gusty winds, which resulted in the aircraft striking barrels beside the runway.