Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control resulting from a hard landing and failure to recover from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was performing a crosswind landing on runway 34. During the landing flare, the airplane "bounced" on the runway and then continued to bounce several more times. The piloted raised the flaps and added full power. The attempt to execute a go-around was unsuccessful and the airplane drifted left, off of the 80-foot-wide grass runway. Realizing that he would not clear buildings near the runway, the pilot aborted the take-off and pushed forward on the yoke. The airplane struck the ground, collapsing the nose landing gear and buckling the left wing. The pilot reported that the winds were from 240 degrees and variable, 10 knots with gusts at the time. The operator also reported that more training and experience in cross-wind landings would have prevented this accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot was performing a crosswind landing on Runway 34. During the landing flare, the airplane "bounced" on the runway and then continued to bounce several more times. The piloted raised the flaps and added full power. The attempt to execute a go-around was unsuccessful and the airplane drifted left, off the 80-foot wide grass runway. Realizing that he would not clear buildings near the runway, the pilot aborted the take-off and pushed forward on the yoke. The airplane struck the ground, collapsing the nose landing gear and buckling the left wing. The pilot reported that the winds were from 240 degrees and variable; 10 knots with gusts at the time. The operator also recommended more training and experience in cross-wind landings, would have prevented this accident.