N3541A

On July 7, 2002, at 1355 eastern daylight time, N3541A, a Cessna 182T, was substantially damaged during a landing at Robertson Field (4B8), Plainville, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go's on runway 02. The pilot completed four takeoffs and landings with "no difficulty," during a "moderate crosswind." During the final landing, the airplane touched down on the runway, then began to porpoise. As the airplane bounced the second time, a gust of wind blew it to the right side of the runway. The airplane continued off the runway and over an embankment, coming to rest inverted with its vertical stabilizer impacting a fence.

The pilot stated he used a "slip" technique to correct for the crosswind, while maintaining the nose of the airplane on the centerline of the runway.

The pilot reported 82 hours of total flight experience, 30 of which were in make and model. He also reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. According to the inspector, substantial damage was observed to the left wing, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The inspector also reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

The winds reported at Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD), Hartford, Connecticut, 10 miles to the northeast, at 1353, were from 300 degrees, variable 260 degrees to 340 degrees, at 9 knots.