Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during the landing flare with a gusting crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of the airplane reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered an estimated over 40 knot crosswind gust. The right wing was lifted; the pilot corrected with aileron and rudder and applied full power to the engine to go-around. Subsequently, the left-wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane spun 180° as it exited the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 17 with wind from 280° at 16 knots, gusting 25 knots. A peak gust recorded one minute after the accident was from 270° at 37 knots.