GAA16CA067

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, immediately after takeoff, the wind speed increased and he elected to complete one pattern and land. With a right quartering head wind, the pilot touched down yet reported that a wind gust made the airplane veer to the right side of the runway. He recalled that he applied full power and aborted the landing. The pilot reported that when he "looked out of the windshield", he realized the airplane was on a heading to impact the airfield hangars, so he turned the airplane to the left, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. The wind at the nearest weather reporting station reported wind from 210 degrees true at 7 knots, with no gusts, and the departure runway heading was 14. According to the pilot, immediately after takeoff, the wind speed increased and he elected to complete one pattern and land. With a right quartering head wind, the pilot touched down yet reported that a wind gust made the airplane veer to the right side of the runway. He recalled that he applied full power and aborted the landing. The pilot reported that when he "looked out of the windshield", he realized the airplane was on a heading to impact the airfield hangars, so he turned the airplane to the left, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. The wind at the nearest weather reporting station reported wind from 210 degrees true at 7 knots, with no gusts, and the departure runway heading was 14. 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-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded - C
• — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Pilot