GAA17CA277

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that while on final "there was turbulence" and "just before landing [he] felt a strong crosswind pushing [him] to the right". Subsequently, the airplane touched down, veered off the right side of the runway, encountered a small ditch, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 180° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 5. The solo student pilot reported that, while on final, "there was turbulence," and "just before landing [he] felt a strong crosswind pushing [him] to the right." Subsequently, the airplane touched down, veered off the right side of the runway, encountered a small ditch, and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 180° at 10 knots. The pilot landed on runway 5. 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Contributed to outcome