On May 11, 1988, a Stinson 108-2 (registration N9570K) was involved in an aviation accident near Temecula, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during a landing roll in crosswind conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a landing roll in direct crosswind conditions, the aircraft weather vanned and departed the runway, colliding with terrain and nosing over with no reported mechanical issues.
What happened
The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight. As the aircraft was rolling down the runway, it encountered a direct crosswind condition. The wind caused the aircraft to weather vane, or turn sharply into the wind. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control but was unable to keep the aircraft on the paved surface.
The aircraft veered off the side of the runway and collided with the surrounding terrain. This impact caused the nose gear to collapse, resulting in the aircraft nosing over. There were no reported mechanical failures or malfunctions prior to the accident.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during a landing roll in crosswind conditions.