N1447D

On September 5, 2000 at 1515 central daylight time, a Cessna 170A tail wheel equipped airplane, N1447D, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing on Runway 18 at the Mexia-Limestone County Municipal Airport, Mexia, Texas. The student pilot, who held a valid solo endorsement, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The flight originated from the Teague Municipal Airport, Teague, Texas, at 1500.

During the 15-minute flight from Teague, the pilot encountered some light turbulence and windy flight conditions. While approaching mid-field at Mexia-Limestone County Airport, the pilot reported that the "windsock showed that the wind was blowing from the south." He set up for a normal full flaps approach to Runway 18, and on final "the wind shifted to North-Northeast, which was a quartering tailwind." Upon touchdown, the airplane "started to steer to the left." Control corrections were not effective, as the aircraft "skidded" off the runway to the left onto grass. The aircraft then impacted a "dirt mound" at a 90-degree angle and sheared the main landing gear. The aircraft came to rest heading about 360 degrees.

Inspection of the aircraft after the accident by an FAA inspector, revealed a bent landing gear box, and buckled fuselage adjacent to the passenger side doorframe.

The nearest full service weather reporting facility was located at Waco, Texas, approximately 36 miles east of Mexia-Limestone County Airport. The wind conditions at Waco, reported at the time of the accident, were 090 at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots.