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GAA16CA234

2016-05-15 · Pahokee, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PHK

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and lateral bank control during the aborted landing, which resulted in collision with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he encountered a sudden wind shift during the landing flare, the right wing rose, and the airplane bounced during touchdown. The pilot further reported that he applied full power to abort the landing and became airborne. During the initial climb, the airplane continued to the left despite the pilot's full aileron application to the right, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane cartwheeled to a stop next to the runway. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he encountered a sudden wind shift during the landing flare, the right wing rose, and the airplane bounced during touchdown. The pilot further reported that he applied full power to abort the landing and became airborne. During the initial climb, the airplane continued to the left despite the pilot's full aileron application to the right, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane cartwheeled to a stop next to the runway. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Sudden wind shift-Response/compensation
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA234.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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