What happened
During the final phase of flight, the aircraft was established on a landing approach to runway 28. As the pilot attempted to touch down and roll out, the airplane encountered significant wind shear conditions characterized by gusty crosswinds. These aerodynamic forces caused the aircraft to deviate laterally from the centerline of the runway.
The deviation resulted in the airplane leaving the paved surface of the runway. At the time of the incident, meteorological data from the nearest observation facility, located approximately 22 nautical miles east of the accident site, indicated winds from 220 degrees at 9 knots with gusts reaching 16 knots. Additionally, the wind direction was reported as variable between 180 and 260 degrees.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the meteorological conditions present at the time of the accident. Data collected from the nearby weather station confirmed the presence of variable winds and gusts that likely contributed to the loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the encounter with gusty crosswinds during the landing phase. The variability of the wind direction and the sudden increase in wind speed created conditions that challenged the pilot's ability to maintain runway alignment. This highlights the critical importance of monitoring real-time weather data and adjusting approach speeds and techniques accordingly when operating in variable wind conditions.