Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing on a grass runway in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in impact with a large bush.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he performed three low passes and briefly touched down on the 750-ft-long grass runway to test the surface before conducting a full-stop landing. The pilot stated that, while landing to the northeast, the airplane bounced and veered right, and he attempted to correct using left rudder. During the landing roll, he heard a noise that sounded like branches brushing against the right side of the airplane and decided to go around by applying full power and retracting the flaps. Concerned that the airplane would not clear the large bush at the end of the runway, he reduced the power to idle and used left rudder to steer the airplane left of the bushes. The airplane impacted the bushes, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he performed three low passes and briefly touching down on the 750-ft long grass runway to test the surface prior to conducting a full stop landing. The pilot stated that while landing to the northeast, the airplane bounced and veered right, and he attempted to correct using left rudder. During the landing roll, he heard a noise that sounded like branches brushing against the right side of the airplane and decided to go-ground by applying full power and retracting the flaps. Concerned, he would not clear the large bush at the end of the runway, he reduced the power to idle and used left rudder to steer the airplane left of large bushes. The airplane impacted bushes and collapsed the left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An airport's automated weather observation station located 12 miles to the southeast, reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 020° at 20 knots, gusting to 27 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane to the northeast.