N195EL

On October 27, 1999, about 1642 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 190, N195EL, was substantially damaged during landing at the Somerset Airport (SMQ), Somerville, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot/owner and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he prepared for a landing on Runway 30, and reported the wind from a heading of 020, at 8 knots. According to the pilot, the airplane bounced as it touched down, approximately 3/4 down the length of the 2,733 foot long runway. During the bounce, a gust of wind "drifted the airplane to the left side of the runway." As the pilot "overcorrected to the right," a crosswind blew the tail further to the left, resulting in a "groundloop to the right." The pilot applied the brakes "to straighten it," and the airplane flipped over, coming to rest inverted.

A witness at the airport observed the airplane on final approach and reported that it "seemed to be somewhat fast." She stated that the airplane landed straight, and after a few moments, the back end started to "pivot wildly from side to side." She further stated that the back end of the airplane lifted off the ground, hovered vertically in the air for a moment, then "crashed down on the runway in the opposite direction, leaving the airplane upside down."

According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, examination of the runway revealed marks about 300 feet long consistent with those of airplane tire skid marks.

The winds reported at SMQ, at 1653, were from 010 degrees at 7 knots.