What happened
During a landing following a series of parachute jump operations, the pilot encountered significant gusty crosswind conditions. These weather patterns had reportedly been present for the preceding ten skydiving flights of the day. As the aircraft completed its landing roll and the nose wheel made contact with the ground, the plane became unstable and began drifting toward the left side of the runway.
In an attempt to maintain control and abort the landing, the pilot applied right rudder and increased engine power. Despite these corrective actions, the aircraft departed the paved surface to the left. During the excursion, the left wing of the aircraft type struck a tree, causing the plane to spin 180 degrees before coming to a final stop. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. No injuries were reported for the pilot.
Findings
- The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally.
- Gusty crosswind conditions were a primary factor during the landing phase.