Casualties unknown

Tailwind Gust Leads to Hard Landing and Undiscovered Damage at Remote Airport (N7380U)

Hughes, AK, US

On September 10, 1998, a Cessna 207A (registration N7380U) operated by Warbelow's Air Ventures Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Hughes, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and an inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the presence of a tail wind. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During an on-demand air taxi landing with a 20-knot tailwind gusting to 24 knots, the airplane stalled 3 feet above the runway, contacting hard. The pilot found no damage initially, but discovered broken tail skid and structural damage the next day.

Accident Overview

A certificated airline transport pilot was performing a landing at a remote airport as part of an on-demand air taxi flight. The runway selected was 4,100 feet long and 120 feet wide, with an uphill gradient of 7.1 percent.

Flight Conditions

For the chosen runway, a tailwind of 20 knots with gusts to 24 knots was present during the landing.

Landing Event

During the landing flare, approximately 3 feet above the runway, the pilot reported encountering a gust of wind or wind shear. The airplane subsequently stalled and contacted the runway hard on the main landing gear.

Post-Landing Inspection

After landing, the pilot inspected the airplane for damage but did not notice any issues at that time.

Damage Discovery

The following day, the pilot observed that the aft tie-down ring and tail skid, located on the underside of the tail cone, were broken off the airplane. Additionally, the airplane sustained damage to the aft empennage bulkhead and the adjacent fuselage structure.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X10982. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.