On March 29, 2006, a Cessna 140 (registration N76688) was involved in an aviation accident near Pageland, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft touched down on runway 05 in a crab during a crosswind, leading to a loss of directional control. The plane veered off the right side, struck a light, and nosed over.
What happened
The pilot reported that he was conducting a full-stop landing on runway 05 while encountering crosswind conditions. Upon touchdown, the airplane remained in a crabbed attitude. This configuration resulted in an immediate loss of directional control.
Unable to maintain the runway centerline, the aircraft departed the paved surface on the right side. It subsequently collided with a runway light fixture before coming to rest after nosing over in the adjacent grassy area.
The investigation
A review of the mechanical systems revealed no anomalies prior to the event. The pilot confirmed that the airplane did not experience any mechanical problems before the accident occurred.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway.