CEN12CA295

Factual narrative

The pilot overflew the airport prior to landing to verify wind conditions. The windsock indicated a slight crosswind for the landing. While on short final approach for runway 12, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the pilot applied rudder and aileron to compensate for the wind conditions. The airplane stalled above the runway and landed hard. The airplane departed the runway surface, entered a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical problems prior to the accident. The airplane's wings and fuselage were bent and cracked. The pilot reported that the wind was 220 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot overflew the airport to verify wind conditions; the windsock indicated a slight crosswind for the landing. While on short final approach for runway 12, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the pilot applied rudder and aileron to compensate for the wind conditions. The airplane subsequently stalled above the runway and landed hard. The airplane departed the runway surface, entered a ditch, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no mechanical problems prior to the accident. The airplane's wings and fuselage were bent and cracked. The pilot reported that the wind was 220 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-(general)-Response/compensation - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C