What happened
During a biennial flight review, the private pilot attempted a crosswind landing on a runway with a width of only 30 feet. As the aircraft approached the flare phase, it began to drift laterally toward the left side of the paved surface. The certified flight instructor (CFI) onboard noted that he delayed taking control of the aircraft or initiating a go-around procedure. Consequently, the aircraft touched down outside the runway boundaries and collided with a runway light, resulting in damage to the airframe.
The investigation
The primary factor identified was the timing of the instructor's intervention. The CFI reported waiting too long to assume control or execute a missed approach maneuver while the aircraft was drifting off the designated landing area.
Findings
The narrow width of the runway contributed to the difficulty of maintaining lateral alignment during the crosswind component. The delay in corrective action by the flight instructor allowed the drift to continue until impact occurred with ground infrastructure.