What happened
The pilot of a Cessna 175 reported that strong winds were blowing down the runway at a private grass airstrip when he entered the traffic pattern. Wind speeds were estimated at thirty to forty knots, accompanied by moderate turbulence.
As the aircraft turned onto the final approach, the pilot initially selected half flaps. However, sensing that the wind and turbulence had intensified, he raised the flaps to the full up position. While crossing the runway threshold, the pilot reduced power, which caused the stall warning horn to activate.
The pilot immediately added power in an attempt to recover, but the aircraft landed hard before recovery could be achieved.
The investigation
No mechanical examination findings were reported in the source material. The narrative focuses entirely on the pilot's actions and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident.
Findings
Contributing factors included the high wind speeds and turbulence encountered during the final approach. The decision to raise flaps to the full up position while reducing power near the threshold led to an aerodynamic stall, indicated by the activation of the stall warning horn. Despite immediate power application, the aircraft impacted the ground with excessive force.
Safety message
Pilots operating in high wind and turbulent conditions should carefully manage flap configuration and airspeed. Raising flaps while simultaneously reducing power near the ground can lead to a rapid loss of lift and control authority, particularly on unprepared surfaces like grass airstrips.