What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight. During the final phase of the approach, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft. As the airplane entered the landing flare, it encountered a significant wind gust estimated at 20 knots. This sudden disturbance caused the aircraft to rotate sharply 80 degrees to the left of the runway centerline.
The pilot described making multiple attempts to regain control and correct the deviation. Despite these efforts, the aircraft could not be stabilized on the intended path. The pilot subsequently pulled back the power in an attempt to stop the forward momentum, but the airplane continued its trajectory off the runway and struck a tree.
The investigation
Investigation of the event focused on the pilot's account of the weather conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the landing flare. The primary finding was the presence of a strong, localized wind gust that disrupted the aircraft's alignment with the runway centerline. No mechanical failures or pre-existing structural issues were identified as contributing factors to the loss of control.
Findings
The accident was primarily caused by the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing flare due to the unexpected wind gust. The combination of the 80-degree rotation and the subsequent power adjustment resulted in a controlled flight into terrain, specifically a tree, located near the runway environment.