What happened
The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight at Glendale airport. As the airplane was approaching the runway, it struck a runway marker sign. The pilot reported that he was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft due to a sudden gust of wind.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the operational circumstances surrounding the incident. The closest official weather reporting station was located at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, approximately 17 statute miles east of Glendale airport. That station recorded winds from 120 degrees at 4 knots with no reported gusts at the time.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll. This loss of control was attributed to a sudden gust of wind, which caused the aircraft to deviate from the runway centerline and impact the marker sign.