What happened
The accident occurred at an airport equipped with a UNICOM station and two runways oriented 17/35 and 10/28. The aircraft was equipped with an operable radio, but the pilot did not attempt to contact the UNICOM frequency prior to landing. The pilot elected to land on runway 17, which presented a crosswind condition from 100 degrees at 20 knots.
During the approach phase, the pilot compensated for the crosswind by lowering the left wing while keeping the fuselage aligned with the runway centerline. Just before touchdown, a gust of wind raised the left wing, causing the right main wheel to strike the runway surface first. The aircraft weather-vaned to the left and departed the paved surface.
The pilot applied full power and maneuvered the aircraft back over the runway edge. Flaps were retracted, and an attempt was made to climb out. However, the aircraft was heading toward parked airplanes and a small tower located near the departure path. To avoid these obstacles, the pilot turned right. During this maneuver, the right wing struck the ground, resulting in a crash. Hangars were situated to the east of runway 17. The pilot believed that wind blowing over these hangars created turbulence that contributed to the loss of control.
Findings
- Crosswind landing technique: The pilot utilized a crab-to-slip or wing-low method to maintain alignment during the approach.
- Wind gust impact: A sudden increase in wind speed raised the left wing just before touchdown, leading to an asymmetric landing gear contact.
- Turbulence: Wind interacting with nearby hangars likely generated turbulence that affected aircraft controllability.
- Obstacle avoidance: The pilot's decision to turn right to avoid parked aircraft and a tower resulted in the right wing striking the ground.