Accident Overview
On April 20, 2019, about 0946 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane veered off the left side of runway 13 during landing at St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC), St. Cloud, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
Flight Details
The airplane was owned and operated by Blue Sky Benefit Solutions, Inc. under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operating under a flight plan. The flight departed Sauk Centre Municipal Airport (D39), Sauk Centre, Minnesota, about 0914 with STC as the destination.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane had undergone an annual maintenance inspection. The airplane operated normally during the flight. The pilot planned to land on runway 13 (7,500 ft by 150 ft, asphalt). The approach and descent rate were stable as he "crabbed" the airplane into the wind to compensate for the right crosswind. He selected 25° of flaps when the indicated airspeed was 80 knots. Before touchdown, he applied left rudder and had the right wing down into the wind to counter the crosswinds and maintain the centerline. At touchdown, he had the control yoke to the right and was applying the brakes; however, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway. The airplane traveled about 50 ft into the grass, where the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the flight controls confirmed continuity from the flight controls to the control surfaces. The airplane was equipped with an engine monitoring system; data indicated that the engine and propeller operated normally during the flight. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated, "Looking back, I should have never gone up with crosswinds that high, with little to no practice in crosswinds logged in the last 30, 60, [or] 90 days."
Weather Conditions
At 0853, the surface weather observation at STC was: wind 180° at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 12° C; dew point -1° C; altimeter 29.78 inches of mercury. The pilot reported that before departing D39, the weather briefing at D39 was sky clear, wind 180° at 9 knots. About 30 nautical miles from STC, the pilot received automated weather from STC indicating sky clear, wind 180° at 12 to 20 knots.
Aircraft Performance
According to the airplane manufacturer's pilot operating handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for this make and model is 17 knots.