Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate directional control during the landing roll.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot, who was making a full-stop landing, noticed that there was a left crosswind as he crossed the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the variable wind changed to a right crosswind, and the pilot did not adequately compensate for the change in the wind direction. He lost directional control of the airplane, and it departed the left side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot, who was intending to make a full-stop landing, noticed that there was a crosswind coming from the left as he crossed the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the variable wind changed to a crosswind from the right and the pilot did not adequately compensate for the change in the wind direction. He therefore lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently departed the left side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to both of its wings. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions related to the accident.