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CHI89LA137

1989-07-17 · CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisconsin, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 3W19

N8005W has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (AMERICAN AA-5, built 1974), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. DURING THE ENSUING ABORTED LANDING, THE PILOT FAILED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE AND THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE WIND SOCK POLE.

Factual narrative

DURING AN ATTEMPT TO LAND WITH A 15-20 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND, THE PILOT 'PUSHED LEFT RUDDER JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN' BUT STATED THAT HE MUST HAVE PUSHED TOO HARD, BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 'AT A SLIGHT ANGLE TO THE LEFT.' THE PILOT ABORTED THE LANDING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ANGLE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET AGL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A WIND SOCK POLE AND SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_CHI89LA137.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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