Event LAX07CA276

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he had configured the airplane for landing with full flaps. As he flared to land, a sudden gust of wind flipped the airplane over onto the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported to the FAA that he had flared for landing at 65 knots. He was about 2 to 3 feet agl when the airplane spun around, and came to rest facing the runway. A witness to the accident, a CFI, told the FAA that the airplane landed hard, and ballooned into the air in a nose high attitude. When it came back down, the propeller blades struck the runway, and the airplane "cartwheeled" around 180 degrees from its direction of travel. He noted that the winds were calm at the time. The airplane landed hard, ballooned into the air, and rotated on its wing before coming to rest 180 degrees from its original direction of travel. The pilot reported that he was caught by a gust of wind during the landing flare. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane landed hard. When it came back down, the propeller blades struck the runway, and the airplane "cartwheeled" around 180 degrees. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12