GAA15CA149

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing the airplane bounced several times while attempting to compensate for a right quartering crosswind. The pilot stated that he believed the landing gear had failed as a result of the hard landing and, "intentionally guided the plane off the runway into the grass, in fear of an explosion." As a result of the runway excursion, the airplane impacted a ditch and sustained substantial damage as the left wing separated from the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during the landing the airplane bounced several times while attempting to compensate for a right quartering crosswind. The pilot stated that he believed the landing gear had failed as a result of the hard landing and, "intentionally guided the plane off the runway into the grass, in fear of an explosion." As a result of the runway excursion, the airplane impacted a ditch and sustained substantial damage as the left wing separated from the fuselage.   The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-(general)-Contributed to outcome