The pilot reported that just before touching down on the 1,900-foot runway at the airport in South Charleston, West Virginia, the Cessna 182 was struck by a strong, unanticipated tailwind gust.
The airplane touched down near the midpoint of the runway. It then began to veer to the right, and the pilot applied left brake to compensate. The airplane departed the runway to the right, near the departure end of the runway, and struck an embankment.
The airplane’s fuselage and left elevator were substantially damaged. The pilot and one of his passengers sustained serious injuries in the crash, while another passenger sustained minor injuries.
The pilot told investigators that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to continue landing after encountering a strong tailwind, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent runway excursion.
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This October 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.
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