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 the landing approach, the pilot encountered a strong crosswind, causing the airplane to drift right and requiring correction.
- The aircraft subsequently stalled 5-10 feet above the runway due to decreased airspeed, leading to a hard landing.
- The airplane skidded off the runway onto a grass slope, sustaining substantial damage including fuselage separation.
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