The pilot reported that he had texted his girlfriend, who was waiting for him at the airport in Calhan, Colorado, to inquire about wind conditions. She sent him a photo of a rag in her hand that was not moving, so he assumed the wind was calm.
Upon arrival at the airport, the reported wind was from 220° at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
As he approached Runway 15 in the Piper PA-28, he chose to fly a faster approach speed to allow for a quicker go-around, if needed.
He stated that as he touched down, a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the runway toward the hangar.
Although he knew he hit ground signs, he attempted a go-around, but was unable to avoid the hangar in front of him and hit it with the left wing.
The pilot later stated that he was unable to maintain control of the airplane during the landing and go-around attempt.
Video surveillance of the accident showed the airplane cross the runway threshold and remain airborne until past the first taxiway and appeared to touchdown near the second taxiway before it bounced. It then exited the left side of the runway into a ditch, where the landing gear hit a sign. The airplane then pitched up, consistent with an attempted go-around, and hit a building.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.
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This April 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Points for the girlfriend. That counts as all available information prior to flight.
Problem: where did this actually happen? Calhan or Meadow Lake? They’re not far apart, but they’re two different airstrips with decidedly different situations. Calhan is grass. Meadow Lake is paved. Calhan is 4565’ long. Meadow Lake has 3 runways, one of which is 6000’ asphalt.
Seems like the NTSB report needs clarifying.
it was KFLY, Meadow Lake, per the FAA inspector’s memo.
It was just poor piloting.!!
Bottom line, this guy was in way over his head. Poor chap is obviously the product of our dysfunctional flight training system in this country. We no longer train people to understand flying, we just teach them the procedures to accomplish the basic task. When they run into a situation they have no procedure for they are lost. I know this because I teach basic aerobatics to certified pilots. I have taught thousands over the last 50 years. I see the final product of our flight training system. It has become a system of “the blind teaching the blind”.
Don’t misunderstand, there are many outstanding instructors and pilots out there who take the effort to go beyond. Sadly, it appears from what I see, they are exceptional and not typical.
From the pictures it is amazing anyone survived.
I prefer a forward slip, so that if I run out of rudder, it’s beyond my ability to land safely, and I’d look for another airport better aligned with the wind.
So, did this pilot no listen to the awos..?? sound like ‘no’.
This guy should have only needed 5 kts added, and use 20 degrees of flap….then hold full aileron once the mains are on the ground.!
There’s no info on his experience, but it sounded to be low from his reply to the FAA.
There are many small airports with no ASOS, ATIS, etc.
No wind sock? Didnt notice any need to crab??
I’ve flown into several airports where the windsock had deteriorated to a point of being almost nonexistent.