After an uneventful cross-country flight, the pilot checked the weather and then set up for a straight-in approach for the airport in Lewisville, Texas. On final, the Flight Design CTSW floated in ground effect over the runway and touched down flat with minimal flare. During the rollout, within a moment of having three wheels on the ground, a large gust of wind picked up the right wing and turned the airplane toward some trees on the side of the runway.
The pilot was not able to correct the turn, so he added power and executed a go-around. He attempted to clear trees beyond the departure end of the runway, and the airplane stalled. The airplane descended and crashed into a lake adjacent to the end of the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite firewall. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
A crosswind component of 15 knots and wind gusts of 23 knots were reported about the time of the accident. After the accident, the pilot stated that he should have diverted to another airport due to the combination of wind, gusts, and obstacles adjacent to the runway.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water. Contributing to the accident were crosswind gusts.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This July 2024 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.
Leave a Reply