Event GAA19CA373

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while on approach for landing on runway 26, the wind was reported from 240º at 8 knots, then a moment later, the wind shifted to 180º at 6 knots. The pilot flew the final approach with a crosswind from the left and crossed the threshold at 50 knots. As he leveled the airplane, and about to touchdown at 45 knots, the airplane was lifted about 7 ft and the nose pitched up 20º. The pilot shoved the control stick forward and began to add power, when the airplane violently slammed onto the runway, collapsing the left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about five minutes before the accident, the wind was from 200° at 9 knots, gusting up to 14 knots. The pilot reported that, while on approach for landing on runway 26, the wind was reported to be from 240º at 8 knots. One second later, the wind shifted and was from 180º at 6 knots. The pilot flew the final approach with a left crosswind and crossed the threshold at 50 knots. As he leveled the airplane and was about to touch down at 45 knots, the airplane lifted about 7 ft, and the nose pitched up 20º. The pilot pushed the control stick forward and began to add power, but the airplane "violently slammed" onto the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. He added full right rudder and aileron to keep the airplane on the runway, but it veered left into tall grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount. 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-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-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation - C