GAA17CA172

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during final approach in gusting wind conditions at night, he reduced power and initiated a flare when he then heard the stall warning horn. He added that a "gust of wind caught [the] left wing", which he attempted to recover with left aileron inputs. The nose landing gear bounced during touchdown and he applied full power to go around when a gust of wind "pushed [him] right into desert". The airplane bounced, impacted a fence, and came to rest inverted on the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that about 5 minutes before the accident the wind was 130° at 9 knots. The same weather observation station reported that about 15 minutes after the accident the wind was 140° at 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airplane landed on runway 19. The pilot reported that, during final approach in gusting wind conditions at night, he reduced power and initiated a flare when he then heard the stall warning horn. He added that a "gust of wind caught [the] left wing," which he attempted to recover with left aileron inputs. The nose landing gear bounced during touchdown, and he applied full power to go around when a gust of wind "pushed [him] right into desert." The airplane bounced, impacted a fence, and came to rest inverted on the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport revealed that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 130° at 9 knots and that, about 15 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 140° at 10 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airplane landed on runway 19. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Contributed to outcome