What happened
The aircraft collided with a runway light and subsequently nosed over while attempting to land on Runway 35. The incident occurred under crosswind conditions that exceeded the limitations previously established for the student pilot. At the time of takeoff, the wind was reported from 040 degrees at 9 knots. When the pilot returned to land, the wind had shifted to 070 degrees at 11 knots. These conditions effectively created a 90-degree crosswind component of 6.5 knots for takeoff and 10.8 knots for landing.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the operational decisions made by the student pilot during the flight. Evidence indicated that the CFI had explicitly instructed the student not to fly when the crosswind component exceeded 5 knots. Despite this clear directive, the pilot proceeded with the landing attempt in winds that significantly surpassed the established limit.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the disregard for the crosswind limitation. The student pilot failed to adhere to the instruction prohibiting flight when crosswinds were over 5 knots. This decision led directly to the loss of control during the landing phase, resulting in the collision with the runway light and the subsequent nose-over of the aircraft.