Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilots decision to attempt a landing ahead of the approaching thunderstorm, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the gusting crosswind ahead of the storm.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was attempting to land ahead of an approaching thunderstorm on runway 17. Witnesses reported low ceilings and gusting winds at the time of the accident. A weather reporting station 7 miles away reported winds from 310 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 32 knots. The pilot reported a strong right crosswind from the storm prevented him from lowering the right wheel and forced the airplane off the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted a go around, lost control, impacted a fence, and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 23, 1994, at 1918 hours central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna 172, N75534, operated as a rental aircraft by Roger Braun of St. Anthony Village, Minnesota, departed the side of runway 17 at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), Anoka, Minnesota and was substantially damaged. No flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and was a local flight which had departed from ANE. The airplane contacted an airport fence, flipped over and came to rest in a residential yard. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Witnesses reported that a thunderstorm with gusting winds was passing over the airport at the time of the accident. The nearest weather reporting station, Minneapolis-Crystal(MIC), located 7 miles west of the accident site, reported thunderstorms, rain showers and winds from 310 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 32 knots at 1911 CDT. At 1924 CDT, the MIC weather was reported as 3600 feet overcast, visibility 1 mile, with winds of 310 degrees at 10 knots in thunderstorms and rain showers. The pilot reported that he was practicing touch and go landings when he noticed an approaching thunderstorm. He stated he made an early turn from the downwind leg to attempt to land ahead of the storm. He stated that during his landing he had a severe right crosswind, could not get the right main wheel on the ground, and was forced off the left side of the runway. He attempted a go around, lost control and contacted an airport fence. -