On May 31, 1996, a Mooney M20F (registration N9532M) was involved in an aviation accident near Festus, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with a hangar. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot lost directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with a hangar structure.
What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to land on runway 18. According to the pilot's account, the airplane encountered significant wind shear during the final approach phase. The pilot reported that wind conditions were variable, ranging from 190 to 270 degrees at a speed of 15 knots, with gusts reaching up to 20 knots.
These sudden changes in wind direction and intensity caused the airplane to drift to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct the deviation but was unable to regain proper alignment with the runway. As the aircraft continued its descent off the paved surface, the left wing contacted the ground. This initial contact caused the airplane to yaw sharply to the left.
The uncontrolled turn directed the fuselage toward a nearby hangar. The airplane then impacted the structure at speed. The pilot did not specify any injuries sustained during the event, nor were there reports of other individuals involved in the collision.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing due to gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with a hangar.