LAX03LA234

Factual narrative

On July 12, 2003, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N22897, owned and operated by the pilot, encountered a wind gust during landing on runway 30 at Dyer, Nevada. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Reno, Nevada, about 1230. The pilot reported that approaching Dyer, his home base airport, the turbulence intensity was "approaching severe," and the wind was variable in direction and gusty. As the pilot flew over the airport the wind sock indicated that the wind was from about 280 degrees, at 10 knots with gusts to 35 knots. The pilot indicated that he had about 2,060 hours of flight time, of which 360 were in the accident model of airplane. The pilot reported that the prevailing wind was well within his and his airplane's capability to handle. The pilot reported that upon landing, the airplane initially rolled straight down the runway as it slowed to between 40 and 45 miles per hour. Suddenly, a very strong gust of wind was experienced that was from about 90 degrees left of his course. The pilot indicated that he lost control of the airplane as it "weather-vaned" him off the runway and into the sand in a nose down attitude. During landing rollout a wind gust was encountered, which resulted in the pilot losing control of the airplane and it swerving off the runway. The airplane came to rest in sand, in a nose down attitude. According to the pilot, as he approached his home base airport the turbulence intensity was "approaching severe," and the wind was variable in direction and gusty. Upon landing and decelerating to between 40 and 45 miles per hour, a very strong gust of wind was experienced that was from about 90 degrees left of his course. The pilot indicated that he lost control of his airplane when it was "weather-vaned" off the runway and into the soft sand. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12