While arriving at the destination airport, the pilot reported lowering the landing gear and flaps while on the downwind leg to the runway. He added that as he lined up for the runway, the airplane drifted to the right, indicating a strong wind from the west. After the airplane crossed the beginning of the runway, the drift increased and the pilot tried to correct back to the runway centerline. The pilot further stated that apparently the airspeed decreased and the airplane “stalled between five and 10 feet above the runway.” The airplane landed hard, slid off the runway onto a grass slope, and came to rest in an upright position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, including separation of the empennage section forward of the vertical stabilizer.
May 1, 2012, Durango, Colo. Legacy Experimental
While arriving at the destination airport, the pilot reported lowering the landing gear and flaps while on the downwind leg to the runway. He added that as he lined up for the runway, the airplane drifted to the right, indicating a strong wind from the west. After the airplane crossed the beginning of the runway, the drift increased and the pilot tried to correct back to the runway centerline.
Key Takeaways:
- During final approach, the pilot encountered a strong crosswind from the west, causing the aircraft to drift significantly to the right of the runway centerline.
- Despite attempts to correct the drift, the airplane's airspeed decreased, leading to a stall at 5-10 feet above the runway.
- The aircraft landed hard, slid off the runway onto a grass slope, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, including the separation of the empennage.
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