On March 17, 1993, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2440T) operated by Westwind Aviation, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Mason, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in the aircraft bouncing off the runway and striking a snowbank. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot lost control during a crosswind landing on runway 27, causing the aircraft to bounce off the pavement and strike a snowbank.
What happened
The accident occurred while a student pilot was conducting his third solo flight. The pilot was operating the aircraft at an airport where he was scheduled to perform both landing and takeoff operations on runway 27. According to the flight instructor, who was monitoring the situation, wind conditions were approximately 10 to 13 knots blowing directly across the landing runway.
During the approach and touchdown phase, the aircraft bounced upon contact with the pavement. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control following the bounce. The airplane departed the paved surface of the runway and impacted a snowbank located adjacent to the airfield.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in the aircraft bouncing off the runway and striking a snowbank.