ERA20CA120

Factual narrative

The flight crew reported that after an instrument landing system approach, during the landing flare the airplane encountered a strong wind gust and a go-around was initiated. During the go-around, the left tip tank struck the runway causing substantial damage to the left wing. The flight crew diverted to another airport where the weather conditions were more favorable, and upon landing, the damage to the left wing was discovered.About the time of the accident, the airport weather observation included wind from a heading of 300° at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The calculated crosswind component was 18 knots. According to the airplane flight manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 24.7 knots. The flight crew reported that, after an instrument landing system approach and during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a strong wind gust that pushed the airplane toward the edge of the runway, so they initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the left-wing tip tank struck the runway. The flight crew diverted to another airport where the weather conditions were more favorable, and after landing, examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing had sustained substantial damage. The calculated crosswind component was 18 knots at the time of landing. According to the Airplane Flight Manual, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 24.7 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 Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C