Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind gusts. Factors were the gusts and the dark night conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
On final approach for the night landing, a wind gust moved the aircraft to the right. The pilot saw trees and added power to go around; however, the airplane impacted the trees and nosed over, coming to rest inverted 50 feet from the runway threshold. 55 minutes prior to the accident, the winds at a location 17 nmi from the site were from 340 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 24.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 19, 1995, at 2345 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N9812E, collided with trees during approach near Kingston, Oklahoma. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane departed Hobart, Oklahoma, at 2245 for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he was on short final for runway 36 at Lake Texoma State Park Airport when "a wind gust moved the aircraft to the right." He "saw trees" and added power to go around; however, the airplane "impacted trees and brush and flipped over." A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and reported it came to rest inverted on a magnetic heading of 180 degrees approximately 50 feet south of the runway threshold. The nose gear separated, both wings were damaged, and the fuselage was deformed. The pilot reported the wind at the time of the accident was from 350 degrees at 20 knots. At 2250, 55 minutes prior to the accident, the winds at the Grayson County Airport in Sherman, Texas, were from 340 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 24 knots. The Grayson County Airport is 17 nmi from the accident site. -