What happened
The pilot was conducting a landing operation on runway 28 at a private airstrip when conditions became challenging. A crosswind of 10 to 12 knots from the left affected the approach. As the aircraft touched down, it began to drift toward the right side of the runway.
Recognizing the drift and likely unable to maintain directional control or align with the runway centerline, the pilot decided to abort the landing. Power was added to execute a balked landing, initiating a go-around maneuver. During this phase of flight, the aircraft drifted to the left instead of climbing away cleanly. The nose or fuselage struck a cyclone fence that paralleled the south side of the runway, resulting in damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing and go-around. Examination revealed that the primary factor was the loss of directional control due to wind drift during the critical low-speed phase of the balked landing. The impact with the fence confirmed the deviation from the intended flight path.
Findings
- A 10 to 12 knot left crosswind was present during the landing attempt.
- The aircraft drifted right upon touchdown, prompting a balked landing decision.
- During the go-around, the aircraft drifted left and impacted a cyclone fence along the south side of the runway.
- Runway excursion due to wind drift contributed significantly to the accident sequence.