N774CA

On April 16, 2005, at 1050 central daylight time, an amateur-built Curl Avid Air Magnum airplane, N774CA, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over while landing on runway 34 (3,500 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at Cando Municipal Airport (9D7), Cando, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local area flight departed 9D7 at 0920.

The pilot reported that at the time of departure there was a "minimal" crosswind from 280-290 degrees magnetic. The pilot reported that the conditions were "ideal" to practice crosswind takeoffs/landings, and he made four touch-and-goes prior to departing the traffic-pattern for the local area flight.

The pilot reported that when he returned to the airport the windsock indicated the wind was from 280 degrees magnetic at 5 to 10 knots. The pilot stated that he made an uneventful two-point (wheels-on) touchdown on runway 34 and after the airplane had rolled 150 to 200 feet it experienced a "severe" crosswind that "forced" the airplane to the right. The pilot reported that he "quickly" applied a left rudder input followed by a right rudder input, resulting in an S-turn with the tail on the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane was "forced off" the left side of the runway into a muddy drainage ditch. The airplane subsequently nosed-over in the drainage ditch.

Wind information was collected from the weather observing station located at the Devils Lake Municipal Airport (DVL), situated about 25 nm southeast of the accident site. The wind data recorded between 0855 and 1255 indicated the wind was primarily out of the southwest (210-240 degrees magnetic) between 4 and 8 knots with no gusts.