On June 26, 2004, a Beech 23 (registration N23342) was involved in an aviation accident near Saginaw, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his inadequate recovery from the bounced landing. The wind gusts and the runway sign were factors. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane struck a runway sign during landing on runway 27 after the pilot reported the plane 'dropped from the sky' and encountered a gust of wind. The aircraft came to rest in the grass.
Incident Overview
An airplane was damaged when it struck a runway sign during landing on runway 27. The pilot reported that while landing, "the plane simply dropped from the sky." He also stated that the airplane bounced and that a gust of wind "caught [him] under the left wing." Following the impact with the runway sign, the airplane came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway.
Weather Conditions
The recorded wind at the time of the incident was from 270 degrees magnetic at 6 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's report, the airplane experienced a sudden drop during the landing flare. After bouncing, a gust of wind affected the left wing, leading to the collision with the runway sign. The aircraft then veered off the runway and stopped on the grass.