What happened
While practicing touch-and-go landings, the pilot encountered changing wind conditions. During the first landing attempt, the aircraft experienced a 40-degree crosswind at five knots. Upon being cleared for the second landing, air traffic control advised that the wind direction and speed had shifted, resulting in a 60-degree crosswind of seven knots.
During the second landing, the pilot reduced cross-control input too significantly during the flare, causing the left wing to lift. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, upon application of power, the aircraft began rotating to the left. In an attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway, the pilot touched down while the aircraft was not properly aligned. This caused the aircraft to veer quickly to the left and depart the side of the runway.
As the aircraft left the runway surface, the tip of the right wing struck the terrain. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the internal structure of the wings. The pilot reported no mechanical issues with the aircraft.
Findings
- The pilot failed to adequately control the aircraft during crosswind conditions.