Witzel GLASSAIR II FT N71TL

Summary

On 9 April 1999 at about 17:46 local time, a Witzel GLASSAIR II FT registered N71TL was involved in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 April 1999 at 17:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Casa Grande (KCGZ)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Witzel GLASSAIR II FT

Registration

N71TL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carlsbad → Midland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA142

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he listened to the automated weather and learned that the winds were from 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 25 knots. He attempted to land on runway 23 and said he carried some extra speed to account for the extra wind gusts. He said he encountered a wind gust, which lifted the airplane about 8 feet off the ground. He then decided to do a go-around but was unable to roll the wings level and thought he may have been below stall speed at that point. The left wing impacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. A CFI witness, who landed immediately prior to the accident, said as they landed their airplane the winds were gusting to 25-28 knots, and he estimated they had a 30-knot crosswind component. He said he saw the accident airplane on approach, and that it 'looked fast on final.' He said it appeared that it bounced several times prior to a wind gust picking up the right wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.