What happened
The aircraft was on final approach for landing on Runway 6. During the landing roll, the pilot reported that a gust of wind struck the vertical stabilizer (tail) of the aircraft. This aerodynamic force caused the tail to swing, turning the nose approximately 45 degrees to the left relative to the runway centerline.
In an attempt to correct the deviation and keep the aircraft on the paved surface, the pilot applied the brakes. The combination of the crosswind-induced yaw and the braking action resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway onto the adjacent grass. The forward momentum caused the nose gear to collapse, leading to a nose-over attitude where the aircraft came to rest on its fuselage.
The investigation
Investigation of the event focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll. The pilot's statement indicated that the primary factor was the sudden lateral movement of the tail due to wind gusts. No mechanical failures were reported prior to the incident. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the nose section and likely the forward fuselage as a result of the nose-over.
Findings
- Runway 6 was the active landing runway at the time of the accident.
- Wind conditions were from 350 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts reaching 22 knots.
- The pilot applied brakes as a corrective action for the directional deviation caused by the wind.
- Crosswind and improper brake application timing contributed to the loss of control.
The aircraft veered onto the grass and nosed over during landing. The pilot said a gust of wind caught the tail of the acft and turned it 45 degrees to the left and when brakes were applied as a corrective action the acft nosed over. The landing was on Runway 6 and the wind was from 350 degrees at 12 kts gusting to 22 kts.