What happened
The pilot provided a written statement describing the events leading up to the accident. The approach was described as standard and uneventful until the flare phase. At that critical moment, a strong wind gust originating from 320 degrees pushed the aircraft approximately 80 feet off the runway centerline.
The investigation
The pilot reported no preexisting anomalies with the airplane prior to the incident. A postaccident examination of the aircraft confirmed these findings, revealing no mechanical defects or issues that could have contributed to the event.
Findings
Weather data indicates significant wind variability at the time of the accident. The reported wind was from 340 degrees at 29 knots, gusting to 39 knots. A peak wind of 320 degrees at 47 knots was recorded, highlighting the extreme crosswind conditions present during the flare.