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GAA15CA033

2015-04-01 · Middleton, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport C29

Current FAA registration · N777XX

Make / Model
LANCAIR LC-40-550FG
Year of manufacture
2002 · 13 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20020806
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA852B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing.

Factual narrative

During a cross-country flight the pilot said he listened to the automated weather report a few miles west of his destination and noted crosswinds at 17 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot continued the approach to landing and reported the touchdown was "uneventful," but during the landing roll a gust of wind rotated the nose 90 degrees into the crosswind. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway, causing the nose wheel to collapse. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. During a cross-country flight the pilot said he listened to the automated weather report a few miles west of his destination and noted crosswinds at 17 knots, gusting to 20 knots.  The pilot continued the approach to landing and reported the touchdown was "uneventful," but during the landing roll a gust of wind rotated the nose 90 degrees into the crosswind.  Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway, causing the nose wheel to collapse.  The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.  Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • F Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation - F
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA15CA033.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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