On April 1, 1987, a Cessna 140 (registration N89316) operated by George Abner Benson was involved in an aviation accident near Creve Coeur, MO. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot practicing landings in gusty crosswind conditions landed long, perceived a tailwind, did not execute a go-around, and ran off the runway, nosing over inverted. Weather data showed no wind change.
Accident Details
A pilot was practicing landings in gusty crosswind conditions. During one approach, the pilot landed long. After rolling a short distance, the pilot perceived that the wind direction had changed, resulting in what was believed to be a tailwind component. The pilot did not select a go-around and continued to maintain directional control. The aircraft subsequently ran off the end of the runway, encountered soft terrain, and nosed over inverted.
Weather Observations
A weather observation from a nearby Flight Service Station (FSS) recorded no change in wind direction or speed near the time of the accident, contradicting the pilot's perception of a wind shift.