Event GAA16CA294

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, during the landing roll in gusting wind, the airplane made a sharp turn to the right and exited the runway. He reported that after passing the ramp area, the aircraft made a sudden turn to the right, and "I was unable to get it turned before leaving the runway and losing braking on the grass." The airplane crossed through the grass safety area and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the nose and left main landing gear attachment points. The wind reported at the airport at the time of the accident was 320 degrees true, at 12 knots with gusts to 24 knots, the airplane landed on runway 24. The crosswind component was calculated at18 knots at the time of the accident, and according to the manufacturer, the airplane has a demonstrated direct crosswind component of 20 knots during takeoffs and landings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. According to the pilot, during the landing roll in gusting wind, the airplane made a sharp turn to the right and exited the runway. He reported that after passing the ramp area, the aircraft made a sudden turn to the right, and "I was unable to get it turned before leaving the runway and losing braking on the grass." The airplane crossed through the grass safety area and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the nose and left main landing gear attachment points. The wind reported at the airport at the time of the accident was 320 degrees true, at 12 knots with gusts to 24 knots, the airplane landed on runway 24. The crosswind component was calculated at18 knots at the time of the accident, and according to the manufacturer, the airplane has a demonstrated direct crosswind component of 20 knots during takeoffs and landings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• 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-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on equipment