N67KH

On July 6, 1998, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt RV6A, N67KH, was substantially damaged while landing at the Hunter Mountain Airport, Hunter, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In an interview, the pilot reported he was conducting practice short field landings to the runway, landing to the north. He had departed about 1250, and conducted one touch and go. The second approach was planned as a full stop landing.

In the NTSB Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated:

"...The left wing was picked up by a strong gust of wind from the S.W. [Southwest], which banked the plane right toward the tree line - close to runway. Tried left rudder and aileron control with full power, but did not have enough speed to keep the plane from trees on right. I cut ignition and master switch on contact....

During the interview, the pilot reported that due to the close proximity of the trees to the side of the runway, he had insufficient time to point the airplane down the runway prior to making contact with the trees. He added that as the airplane departed the runway to the right, the terrain dropped down. The airplane remained at runway height as it struck the trees.

The pilot reported the winds had been variable at about 5 knots with gusts to 10 knots.

The pilot reported that he had operated in and out of the airport for 8 years without a problem. The airport runway was a one-way runway, with landing uphill, and takeoffs downhill, unless there were strong winds from the south.