No fatalities

Single-Engine Airplane Hits Telephone Pole and Car During Crosswind Landing Attempt

Boulder, CO, United States

On April 28, 2010, a BEECH 35 operated by CURTIS CHARLES was involved in an aviation accident near Boulder, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after touchdown while attempting to land in a crosswind. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot attempting a crosswind landing drifted right, touched down, left wing lifted, and after a go-around attempt, struck a telephone pole and a car. No mechanical issues reported.

Event Details

A private pilot was attempting to land a single-engine airplane in crosswind conditions. During the approach, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway and touched down. Immediately after touchdown, the left wing lifted. The pilot responded by adding power to execute a go-around. However, he quickly realized that a go-around was not a suitable option and reduced engine power. As the airplane veered toward a fence and a road, the pilot again added power, attempting to lift the airplane over the obstacles. Subsequently, the left wing struck a telephone pole and a car. The pilot then reduced power, and the airplane skidded to a stop, remaining upright on its landing gear.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. He stated that the accident resulted from his failure to maintain control of the airplane after touchdown while attempting to land in a crosswind.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after touchdown while attempting to land in a crosswind.

Contributing factors

Response/compensationPilotPerformance/control parameters — Not attained/maintained