What happened
The pilot departed from his private, 1200-foot-long airstrip on a private flight carrying one passenger, heading toward Shawnee Municipal Airport. On the return leg of the flight, the pilot elected to land toward the south end of the strip. At that time, a thunderstorm was located approximately half to one mile west-southwest of the airstrip. Although light winds were prevailing from the south, they were variable to the west and north with sudden gusts from the storm ranging between 10 and 15 mph.
During a full flap landing approach, the aircraft touched down approximately 500 feet down the runway. Shortly after touchdown, the aircraft veered to the left and crossed a ditch. The left main wheel collided with a metal cover over a septic tank. Recognizing the situation, the pilot applied full power in an attempt to execute a go-around.
The aircraft entered a nose-high attitude and began turning to the right. Although it became airborne again, it impacted rising terrain and struck trees before burning. The airstrip itself sloped downward toward the south and was bordered along its west side by a line of trees.
Findings
Contributing factors included the variable winds with sudden gusts from a nearby thunderstorm and the pilot's decision to land at a private strip with limited length and obstacles. The collision with the septic tank cover during the initial touchdown phase likely compromised control, leading to the aborted landing attempt that resulted in the crash.
Safety message
Pilots should exercise extreme caution when operating from short, private airstrips, particularly when weather conditions such as thunderstorms are nearby. Variable wind gusts can significantly affect aircraft handling during critical phases of flight like landing and go-around maneuvers.