Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and noseover.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After practicing flight maneuvers with his student in the training area, the flight instructor opted to fly the approach and landing due to the gusting crosswinds. On the first landing attempt, the wind was a direct 90° gusting crosswind. The instructor was unable to maintain the runway centerline using the wing low side-slip technique and executed a go-around maneuver. On the second attempt, following touchdown, the airplane veered left in the gusting crosswind. The instructor input full right aileron; however, the airplane travelled off the left side of the runway, hit a runway light, and nosed over after impacting the lip of a taxiway. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures, nor did the flight instructor report any. The recorded wind at the nearest weather reporting facility, about 7 miles northwest of the accident airport, was a direct right crosswind at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots at the time of the accident.