N6302A

On June 3, 1997, approximately 1839 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182, N6302A, registered to Railbird Flying Club, Inc., and being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed during a loss of control and subsequent fire while landing at the Brigham City airport, Brigham City, Utah. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated in accordance with 14CFR91, and originated from Ogden, Utah, approximately 1815.

The 68 year old pilot reported in a telephonic interview with the investigator that on his second touch and go landing to runway 16 he was crabbing into the wind just before touchdown when a gust of wind pushed the aircraft toward the west side of the runway. He further related that he "guessed I touched down with the wheels at an angle to the direction of the airplane." Subsequent to the touchdown, the right wing tip impacted the runway, the nose gear collapsed and the propeller began striking the runway surface. The pilot reported observing sparks from the forward-right area of the engine during the ground slide, followed by flames in the same area. Once the aircraft slid to a stop the pilot exited the aircraft. A post crash fire subsequently destroyed the aircraft.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the aircraft during the accident, and that he was utilizing full flaps during his landing on the 7,500 foot long runway. He also reported that he was advised following the accident that the winds in the vicinity of the airport at the time of the accident were from 140 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 18 knots. The pilot also reported approximately 350 hours of total flight experience.