On March 15, 2003, a Cessna U206A (registration N4896F) was involved in an aviation accident near Honesdale, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout due to a gusting crosswind, which resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway and striking a snow bank. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing, a strong gust of wind pushed an airplane off the runway to the right. The main gear became stuck in mud before the aircraft pivoted and struck a snow bank.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a landing operation when the aircraft encountered significant crosswind conditions during the rollout phase. A sudden, strong gust of wind pushed the airplane toward the right side of the runway. As the aircraft drifted off the paved surface, the right main landing gear became embedded in the mud adjacent to the runway.
Once the gear was stuck, the momentum of the aircraft caused it to pivot sharply around that fixed point. The fuselage and remaining structure then collided with a nearby snow bank, bringing the aircraft to a halt.
Findings
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as wind from 270 degrees at 10 knots. While the reported wind speed was moderate, the presence of strong gusts contributed to the loss of directional control during the critical landing roll phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout due to a gusting crosswind, which resulted in the aircraft leaving the runway and striking a snow bank.