Event GAA16CA402

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane touched down "firm" with the landing gear side loaded. The pilot further reported that the airplane immediately veered off the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane encountered a steep ravine located about 300 feet from the runway centerline; subsequently the landing gear collapsed. The right elevator 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 automated weather observation station (AWOS) at the airport four minutes before the accident recorded the wind at 250 degrees true at 10 knots. The AWOS about 56 minutes after the accident recorded the wind at 260 degrees true at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on a runway aligned with 170 degrees magnetic. The pilot reported that during the landing in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane touched down "firm" with the landing gear side loaded. The pilot further reported that the airplane immediately veered off the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane encountered a steep ravine located about 300 feet from the runway centerline; subsequently the landing gear collapsed. The right elevator 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 automated weather observation station (AWOS) at the airport four minutes before the accident recorded the wind at 250 degrees true at 10 knots. The AWOS about 56 minutes after the accident recorded the wind at 260 degrees true at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on a runway aligned with 170 degrees magnetic. 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 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-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-(general)-Contributed to outcome