Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said that he was going to execute some takeoffs and landings to comply with the regulations pertaining to currency. During the first crosswind landing, at approximately 10 to 15 feet, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot said he increased the elevator deflection, but the airplane's rate of descent did not decrease. He did not increase engine power because there was not enough time and the airplane landed hard. The right landing gear was twisted approximately 30 degrees outboard, and the right wing was bent up with skin wrinkling on the upper surface.
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 24, 1995 at 1020 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA-28RT-201, N8162S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed earlier that day from the Palwaukee airport, at 1000 cst. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on December 29, 1995 he said that he was going to execute some takeoffs and landings to comply with the regulations pertaining to currency. The pilot said that during the first crosswind landing at approximately 10 to 15 feet the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot said he increased the elevator deflection, but the airplane's rate of descent did not decrease. The pilot said that he did not increase engine power, because there was not enough time. The airplane's right landing gear was twisted approximately 30 degrees outboard, and the right wing was bent up with skin wrinkling on the upper surface. -