Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's inadequate application of crosswind controls during landing rollout. Factors were gusty crosswinds.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that while taxiing on landing rollout in gusty crosswind conditions, a gust lifted the upwind wing and the downwind wing dragged on the runway. The aircraft was substantially damaged in this occurrence, suffering a cracked rear spar and a bent aileron.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 30, 1997, a Boeing E75, N5010V, was substantially damaged when its left wingtip dragged on the runway during a crosswind landing at Felts Field, Spokane, Washington. The commercial pilot-in-command, who owned the aircraft, and a glider-rated student pilot were not injured in the occurrence. The flight was a local 14 CFR 91 flight out of Felts Field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The accident occurred at an undetermined time during the afternoon. On his NTSB accident report, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 3, but did not specify which of Felts Field's two parallel northeast runways was the landing runway (runway 3L is a 4,500-foot-long by 150-foot-wide concrete runway, and runway 3R is a 3,059 by 75 foot asphalt runway.) The pilot stated that the winds at the time of the occurrence were southerly at "over 10" knots, gusting to "over 15" knots. The pilot stated that while taxiing on landing rollout, a gust lifted the upwind wing and the downwind wing dragged on the runway. The pilot initially reported the occurrence to the NTSB in a letter to the NTSB's Seattle, Washington, regional office dated April 4, 1997, which stated that at that time the level of damage to the aircraft appeared minor. The damage was subsequently determined to be substantial, including a cracked rear spar and a bent aileron. There was no report of the occurrence from Felts Field air traffic control (ATC), which operates a control tower at the airport from 0600 to 2000 daily. -