Primary finding
Probable cause
A downdraft and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors were: a crosswind and the inadvertent selection of additional flaps.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said that from the air, the wind appeared to be directly across runway 15 'with possibly a left quartering tailwind.' after selecting 20 degrees of flaps, he noticed his airspeed had increased from 80 knots to 115 knots. He closed the throttle, slowed back to 80 knots, and selected what he thought was 30 degrees of flaps. As he flared the airplane between 70 and 75 kias, the pilot sensed he was going too fast. The airplane was then 'sharply blown down onto the runway,' left of centerline, and bounced. He applied full throttle in an attempt to go around, and noticed the flap handle was in the 40 degree detent. He retracted the flaps, but the airplane drifted off the left side of the runway. He said the airplane lifted off but never got out of ground effect. It went down an embankment, struck a ditch, and nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
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