Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind which resulted in his loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent collision with the parked airplanes. A related factor was the pilot's lack of experience.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot and his passengers were returning from a local flight, when he reported that he was high on the approach to runway 29. He stated that the airplane touched down about 1/3 down the runway and the airplane bounced once. He reported that he experienced a gust of wind from the left. He stated that he applied the brakes and the airplane slid to the left veering off the runway and colliding with two unoccupied airplanes that were parked on the grass. A witness, who is a flight instructor had just returned from a training flight with his student stated that he had to take the controls from his student during the landing as the 30 knot windsock on the field was fully extended. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On Sunday, September 12, 1993, at 1455 eastern daylight time, N7064Q, a Cessna 172L, operated by Oxford Flying Club of Southbury, Connecticut, and piloted by Dunham Smith of Sandyhook, Connecticut, collided with two parked airplanes during landing at Great Barrington Airport, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot and his four passengers were not injured. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, he was high on the approach to runway 29. He stated that he touched down about 1/3 down the runway and the airplane bounced once. He reported that he experienced a gust of wind from the left. He stated that he applied the brakes and the airplane slid to the left veering off the runway and colliding with two unoccupied airplanes that were parked on the grass. According to a witness, who is a flight instructor, the 30 knot windsock on the field was fully extended. He stated that he had just returned from a flight with a student, and he had to take the controls during the landing. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. -