What happened
During a solo cross-country training flight, the student pilot attempted to land on runway 14. The conditions included a right crosswind exceeding 20 knots. As the aircraft flared for landing, the pilot reported feeling a loss of directional control. In response, he elected to execute a go-around. Shortly after initiating this maneuver, the pilot lost directional control completely. The aircraft drifted to the left and struck a tree before impacting the terrain.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the events leading up to the impact. The primary factor identified was the weather condition at the time of the incident. Specifically, the right crosswind component was recorded as being in excess of 20 knots. This wind speed presented significant handling challenges for the aircraft during the critical phases of landing and go-around.
Findings
The loss of directional control occurred while the pilot was managing the aircraft in strong crosswind conditions. The decision to go around did not prevent the subsequent loss of control. The drift to the left resulted in the collision with the tree and final impact with the ground. The weather, specifically the high crosswind component, was a critical element in the sequence of events.