Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, during a landing attempt with a crosswind, she encountered a gust of wind that lifted and pushed the airplane to the left. She applied full throttle and right rudder to arrest the airplane’s descent back to the runway, but the airplane porpoised and departed the left side of the runway. While the airplane porpoised the nose landing gear impacted gravel, separated and the airplane skid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the floor panel structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.