N5712L

On May 23, 2000, at 1630 central daylight time, an American AA-1, N5712L, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an attempted go around and nose over on runway 35 (2,900 feet by 60 feet, dry/asphalt) at Sandstone Municipal Airport, near Sandstone, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating under a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Sawyer County Airport, near Hayward, Wisconsin at 1530.

The pilot stated, "When I arrived at Sandtone about 4:30 the wind was straight west and rather brisk. I decided to try landing on runway 35 Sandstone. If the crosswind was too bad I intended to go to Burnette county which has cross runways. The landing went well until I touched down and a wind gust ballooned the plane 5 to 10 ft into the air. I added power in an attempt to go around but did not have sufficient airspeed and the plane contacted the runway nose wheel 1st. The front gear collapsed and the prop struck the runway. The plane proceeded another 100 ft or so in a nose low attitude and went off the right side of the runway. After proceeding through some grass the plane flipped over frontwards and stopped inverted." The pilot further stated, "I believe, and other pilots have commented, that crosswinds here are unusually gusty because of the trees that border the west side of the runway."

At 1655, the Mora Municipal Airport, Mora, Minnesota, weather was: Wind 280 degrees at 16 knots gusts to 23 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 24 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 29.46 inches of mercury.