Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a gusting crosswind landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After a cross-country flight and as the pilot approached his destination airport, he checked the wind. After flying a normal traffic pattern for runway 14, he made two unsuccessful landing attempts. On the third attempt, the airplane experienced a wind gust, and the airplane banked 90 degrees. The pilot applied power; however, the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane cartwheeled twice and then came to rest inverted next to the runway. There were no reported malfunctions with the airplane before the accident. A review of the airport's automated weather reporting station report indicated that, about the time of the accident, the airplane would have experienced about a 15-knot crosswind gusting to 20 knots. The accident is consistent with a loss of control during windy conditions.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 21, 2014, about 1450 central daylight time, a Zodiac 601 HD airplane, N318MH, impacted terrain near the Gillespie County Airport, (T82), Fredericksburg, Texas. The private rated pilot, sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a Saavy Biz, Inc, Roanoke, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. According to the pilot, as he approached T82, the wind was 18 to 22 knots. He flew a normal traffic pattern to runway 14, but made two unsuccessful attempts to land. On his third attempt to land, while 100 feet above the runway at 55 knots, a wind gust hit the airplane and banked the airplane 90-degrees. The pilot reported that he applied power; however, the left wing impacted the runway. The airplane cartwheeled twice before coming to rest, inverted next to the runway. There were no reported malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident, and examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. A review of the automated weather reporting station report, about the time of the accident, revealed that the pilot would have experienced a crosswind of about 15 knots gusting to 20 knots