Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of airplane control while landing with a crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After landing with a 5-knot crosswind, the pilot noticed a shimmy in the nosewheel and pulled back on the yoke in an effort to raise the nose and offload the strut. Consequently, the airplane became airborne and bounced twice down the runway. The nose gear strut collapsed on the second impact, resulting in a prop strike and substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that he did not correct for the crosswind during the approach. He reported no preimpact mechanical abnormalities with the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot was landing on runway 36, a 3,715-foot long, 75-foot wide, asphalt runway. After touchdown the pilot noticed a nosewheel shimmy and "instinctively pulled back on the yoke to raise the nose to offload the strut." This caused the airplane to become airborne and bounce twice down the runway. The nose gear strut collapsed on the second impact, causing a prop strike and substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that he had used "no real wind correction" for the approach, and did not report any mechanical abnormalities with the airplane. The recorded weather at an airport located 5 miles north of the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported winds from 220 degrees at 5 knots, with unrestricted visibility.