Accident Overview
A pilot en route to Concordia Parish Airport (0R4) in Vidalia, Louisiana, to purchase fuel departed from his private airstrip, Sydal Acres (58LA), in Lake Jackson, Louisiana. During the landing rollout, the aircraft began "skipping sideways" until the landing gear "folded under." The airplane then went off the side of the runway and nosed over.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot's written statement, he was advised en route that the wind at 0R4 was from the south at 7 knots. He reported that the touchdown was normal, but during the rollout, the airplane started skipping sideways, leading to the gear collapse and subsequent nose-over.
Witness Observations
The airport manager, who witnessed the accident, stated in writing that he observed the airplane on final approach for runway 14. The airplane slipped to the right to compensate for a wind from about 165 degrees at approximately 10 knots with gusts. As the airplane transitioned to a wings-level, wheel-type touchdown, the right wing came up, and it began veering to the right, scraping the bottom left wing on the pavement and scuffing the left tire. The left gear then collapsed, and the airplane skidded down the runway before veering off the right side into the grass and nosing over. The propeller left a single cut mark on the edge of the runway and several cut marks in the ground about 1 foot apart. The dragging wheel dug into the ground, and the airplane overturned onto its back.
Wind Conditions
An FAA inspector reported that the pilot told him the Hardy-Anders Field/Natchez-Adams County Airport (KHEZ) Automatic Weather Observing System (AWOS) indicated wind from the east at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots. On touchdown, the pilot said the wind "felt much stronger...gusting in excess of 20 knots." The inspector confirmed the wind was 210 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots.