On August 31, 2007, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N3914Z) operated by Donald L. Mcmillen was involved in an aviation accident near Rawlins, WY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and sustaining damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft departed the runway during landing rollout due to uncontrollable yaw from strong crosswinds, causing the left wing to strike the ground and sustain structural damage.
What happened
The pilot executed a standard approach and touchdown on runway 28. During the landing rollout phase, the aircraft encountered significant wind conditions reported at 330 degrees with speeds of 14 knots gusting to 23 knots. These winds caused the airplane to yaw uncontrollably toward the right side.
The aircraft left the paved surface and entered soft terrain. The left main landing gear sank into the ground, leading to a collision between the left wing and the terrain. This impact resulted in physical damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed specific structural failures on the left side of the aircraft. The left rear wing spar was found to be bent. Additionally, the left aileron sustained deformation consistent with the reported ground contact.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway and sustaining damage.
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