No fatalities

2016-04-09: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (N122PM) — Skydive San Marcos — Fentress, United States of America

Fentress, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On April 9, 2016, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration N122PM) operated by Skydive San Marcos was involved in an aviation accident near Fentress, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted landing in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a collision with a tree. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781192461Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported losing directional control during an aborted landing in gusty crosswind conditions, causing the airplane to depart the runway and collide with a tree, resulting in substantial wing damage.

Incident Details

The incident occurred during a landing following a parachute jump flight. The pilot reported that gusty crosswind conditions had been present for the previous 10 skydiving flights that day.

Pilot's Account

According to the pilot, during the landing roll, when the nose wheel touched down, the airplane became "unstable" and veered to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and added power to abort the landing, but the airplane departed the runway to the left. The left wing subsequently impacted a tree, causing the airplane to spin 180 degrees to the left before coming to rest.

Damage

The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause is the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted landing in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a collision with a tree.