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GAA17CA046

2016-10-23 · Kirksville, Missouri, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport IRK

N528HB has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (CIRRUS DESIGN SR22T, built 2019), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper compensation for changing wind during the landing flare, which resulted in an off-centered landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.

Factual narrative

The recently certificated pilot reported that during the initial climb he heard a whistling noise and noticed that the passenger door was not secured. Subsequently, he returned to the departure airport to secure the door. He added that during the landing flare, he believed that the wind decreased significantly, which resulted in him having "too much right rudder engaged". The airplane touched down 30° relative to center line, veered off the runway to the right, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recently certificated pilot reported that, during the initial climb, he heard a whistling noise and noticed that the passenger door was not secured. Subsequently, he returned to the departure airport to secure the door. He added that, during the landing flare, he believed that the wind decreased significantly, which resulted in him having "too much right rudder engaged." The airplane touched down 30° relative to the runway centerline, veered off the runway to the right, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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-Crosswind correction-Not attained/maintained - C
  • 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
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on equipment
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Doors-Passenger/crew doors-Not specified

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA17CA046.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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