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GAA18CA304

2018-05-06 · Gainesville, Georgia, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GVL

Current FAA registration · N406PA

Make / Model
BEECH 58
Year of manufacture
1982 · 36 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date
19820818
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4C431

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing in gusty crosswind conditions, the airplane hit the runway unexpectedly, and he initiated a go-around by adding full power. He added that, the airplane struck the runway a second time, but he continued the go-around. Subsequently, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The 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 located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 13 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot attempted to land on runway 29. The pilot reported that, during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, the airplane hit the runway unexpectedly, and he initiated a go-around by adding full power. He added that the airplane struck the runway again, but he continued the go-around. Subsequently, the pilot diverted to an alternate airport and landed without further incident. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The 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 located at the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 13 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot attempted to land on runway 29. 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-Landing flare-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-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA304.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (go-around). All research papers