CEN21LA280

Factual narrative

The pilot completed a short cross-country flight and checked the wind conditions at the destination airport. He reported the automated weather station was out of service but received weather and runway information from an air traffic controller and airport personnel. The on-board weather information reported the wind was 10 to 12 kts at a 60°crosswind angle, so he set up for a normal landing. The pilot added that when he was about 30 to 50 ft agl, the airplane was hit with a gust of wind. He pulled back on the controls and stalled the airplane. The airplane bounced onto the runway, so the pilot elected to do a go-around. He applied throttle; however, the airplane veered left and impacted a drainage ditch. During the accident, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. About the time of the accident, the automated weather reporting station located 23 miles northwest of the accident site reported, wind from 290° at 10 kts gusting to 21 kts. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation