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Atlas / NTSB / WPR10CA361

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR10CA361

2010-07-21 Bend, Oregon, United States Airport · KBDN None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N24WG

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

ERIC VASSBERG Q200

Year of manufacture

2023

Engine

LYCOMING O-290-D2 (140 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20230719

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A22FA1

Registrant of record

VASSBERG ERIC D

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a wind gust during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was on final approach to runway 34 at the destination airport. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind about 40-degrees off its nose. The airplane ballooned up, off the runway surface and the pilot pushed the control yoke in an effort to counteract the wind. The airplane touched down hard, collapsing the nose landing gear. The airplane again became airborne and the pilot maneuvered to the ground and landed. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. As a result of the accident, the airplane incurred damage to the right wing. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for the airport, issued around the time of the accident, reported winds from 360 degrees at 07 knots; 20 minutes later it reported the wind from 360 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The pilot reported that he was on final approach to runway 34 at the destination airport. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust of wind about 40 degrees off its nose. The airplane ballooned up off the runway surface and the pilot pushed the control yoke in an effort to counteract the wind. The airplane touched down hard, collapsing the nose landing gear. The airplane again became airborne and the pilot maneuvered to the ground and landed. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. As a result of the accident, the airplane incurred damage to the right wing. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for the airport, issued around the time of the accident, reported winds from 360 degrees at 07 knots; 20 minutes later it reported the wind from 360 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots. 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 Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_WPR10CA361.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.