Event GAA18CA260

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the weather began to deteriorate during the previous approach and the airplane encountered updrafts and downdrafts. Additionally, he noticed that it had begun to rain, and he aborted the landing. During the next approach, he reported that there was a variable crosswind and that the updrafts and downdrafts continued. During the landing roll, the wind direction may have shifted to a tailwind, and that the brakes did not have "the normal stopping effect." The airplane overran the runway and the airplane struck a fence before coming to rest on a public road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar. 10 minutes prior to the accident, the METAR at the airport reported that the wind was from 260° at 09 knots and lightning in the distance from the west to northeast. About the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 24 knots, gusting to 33 knots with peak wind from 350° at 33 knots and lightning in the distance from the west to northeast. 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was reported as being from 10° at 20 knots and gusting to 31 knots, with peak wind being from 350° at 33 knots and shifting, lightening in all quadrants with thunderstorms and light rain. The pilot landed to runway 23. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot, the weather began to deteriorate during the previous approach and the airplane encountered updrafts and downdrafts. Additionally, he noticed that it had begun to rain, and he aborted the landing. He reported that, during the next approach, there was a variable crosswind and that the updrafts and downdrafts continued. He added that, during the landing roll, the wind direction may have shifted to a tailwind and that the brakes did not have "the normal stopping effect." The airplane overran the runway and struck a fence before coming to rest on a public road. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar. Ten minutes before the accident, the METAR at the airport reported that the wind was from 260° at 9 knots and lightning was in the distance from the west to northeast. About the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 24 knots, gusting to 33 knots with a peak wind from 350° at 33 knots and lightning in the distance from the west to northeast. Ten minutes after the accident, the METAR reported that the wind was from 10° at 20 knots, gusting to 31 knots with a peak wind from 350° at 33 knots and shifting and lightening in all quadrants with thunderstorms and light rain. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 23. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-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
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Variable wind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Updraft-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Downdraft-Effect on operation