Event GAA16CA505

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while landing at dusk, he attempted to activate the pilot controlled lighting system, but was not successful. He further reported that there was a significant left crosswind, and that perhaps he did not crab enough. The airplane touched down on the grass to the right of the runway, he applied left rudder, the airplane veered to the left, crossed the runway, and continued off the runway to the left into rough terrain. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in a nose down position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the weather at the time of the accident was wind 170 degrees true at 11 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24. The pilot reported that while landing at dusk, he attempted to activate the pilot controlled lighting system, but was not successful. He further reported that there was a significant left crosswind, and that perhaps he did not crab enough. The airplane touched down on the grass to the right of the runway, he applied left rudder, the airplane veered to the left, crossed the runway, and continued off the runway to the left into rough terrain. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in a nose down position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the weather at the time of the accident was wind 170 degrees true at 11 knots. The airplane landed on runway 24. 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 Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Crosswind correction-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome