Summary
On July 24, 2014, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22 (N8159Z) was involved in an incident near Lafollette, TN. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a go-around in gusty crosswind conditions.
After an uneventful cross-country flight, about 2 miles from his destination airport, the pilot noted a "significant crosswind component with gusty/windshear like conditions." He then established the airplane in a slip maneuver and continued his approach to land. While over the runway, after realizing he had passed his intended point of landing, the pilot applied full throttle, added right rudder and pitched the airplane to a climb attitude to initiate a go-around. The airplane was then struck by a "significant wind gust" and it veered to the left towards a tree line. The left wing made contact with a tree and then impacted the ground before coming to rest between two trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings and the empennage.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA14CA357. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8159Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a go-around in gusty crosswind conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
After an uneventful cross-country flight, about 2 miles from his destination airport, the pilot noted a "significant crosswind component with gusty/windshear like conditions." He then established the airplane in a slip maneuver and continued his approach to land. While over the runway, after realizing he had passed his intended point of landing, the pilot applied full throttle, added right rudder and pitched the airplane to a climb attitude to initiate a go-around. The airplane was then struck by a "significant wind gust" and it veered to the left towards a tree line. The left wing made contact with a tree and then impacted the ground before coming to rest between two trees. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation.
A witness' recount of the accident corroborated the pilot's statement. The winds at the time of the accident were gusting from the west.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA14CA357