Casualties unknown

Pilot Loses Directional Control During Landing Flare (N5756Y)

Fall River Mill, CA, US

On September 23, 2005, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N5756Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Fall River Mill, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain runway alignment during landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot lost directional control during the landing flare, resulting in an impact with terrain east of the runway. The pilot reported extreme crosswind conditions at the airport.

Incident Overview

A pilot lost directional control of an airplane during the landing flare, causing the aircraft to impact flat level terrain east of the runway. The pilot had entered the traffic pattern for runway 2 upon arrival at the airport.

Crosswind Conditions

The pilot reported encountering an "extreme" left crosswind condition, which he stated caused the airplane to be blown off the runway. According to the pilot, the winds were from 340 degrees at 25 knots. The airport had no weather reporting station; however, the closest facility with weather reporting indicated winds from 350 degrees at 9 knots at the time of the incident.

Sequence of Events

The aircraft was on approach and during the landing flare, the pilot lost directional control. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and impacted terrain east of the runway. The terrain was described as flat level grass. No other information was provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, or occupants.

Investigation

No additional details were available from the source regarding the investigation, including any probable cause determination or recommendations. The incident occurred during daylight hours, but specific time was not provided.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20051101X01770. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.