On October 1, 1998, a Cessna 140A (registration N9403A) was involved in an aviation accident near Belen, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors were his inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions, and the airplane manufacturer's failure to provide adequate performance data. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing on runway 21, a crosswind gust in excess of 20 knots caused the aircraft to yaw left, buckling the right main landing gear, which then separated. The pilot reported southerly winds of 15-18 knots.
Accident Details
The pilot was turning onto final approach for runway 21 when he noted the need to lower the left wing and apply right rudder to maintain runway alignment. As the aircraft touched down, a gust of wind described as "in excess of 20 knots" caused the airplane to yaw sharply to the left. This sudden movement resulted in the right main landing gear buckling and subsequently separating from the aircraft.
Wind Conditions
The pilot reported that the wind had generally been from the south, with speeds between 15 and 18 knots prior to the landing. The gust encountered at touchdown was stronger than the prevailing wind, exceeding the pilot's stated range.
Aircraft Information
A spokesperson for the Cessna Airplane Company stated that the aircraft owner's manual does not contain any maximum crosswind component data. No further details about the aircraft model or registration were provided in the available source.