N2507Y

On May 30, 1998, at 1145 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172D, N2507Y, was substantially damaged during a collision with the ground while executing an aborted landing at the Beverly Municipal Airport, Beverly, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The flight originated from Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at 1100.

The pilot reported that she set 20 degrees of flaps, was aligned with the middle of runway 34, and about to flare the airplane when a "gust of wind hit, and cocked the nose of the airplane 30 degrees to the left." She stated that she immediately added power; but was unable to control the airplane and it continued to go left. By midfield, according to the pilot, "nothing looked right, and the airplane was still drifting left," so she pulled off the power and attempted to land in a field adjacent to the runway. The pilot stated that it happened so quickly, she did not remember the left wing contacting the ground.

The winds at the airport were recorded as 320 degrees magnetic at 12 knots. The pilot reported that she did not have any mechanical problems with the airplane.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that the airplane traveled 550 feet from the runway before coming to a stop in an upright position. The Inspector reported that the left wing contacted the ground, leaving the outboard 16 inches of the wing bent up, and the aileron bent down. Further examination of the wing revealed damage to the trailing edge spar.