Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind gust, and his failure to maintain runway alignment after encountering the wind gust.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 29. During the landing flare at 15 feet above the surface, a wind gust was encountered from 340 degrees at 20 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane yawed 45 degrees left, and the gust pushed the airplane off the runway. The pilot applied full engine power to recover; however, directional control was lost. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a fence.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 29, 1997, at 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Taylorcraft Aviation Corporation F19, N3937T, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with a fence during an attempted landing on runway 29 at the Tracy, California, airport. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed for the local area flight which commenced from Tracy at 1300. The pilot reported that the accident occurred while he was practicing touch-and-go landings. The pilot indicated that he encountered a wind gust during the landing flare at 15 feet above the surface of runway 29. The gust was from 340 degrees at 20 knots. He stated that the gust pushed the airplane off the runway. The nose of the airplane yawed 45 degrees left, and the pilot applied full engine power to recover. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and collided with a fence. The pilot also reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures precipitated the collision. -