ST CLOUD, MN, USA
N2027E
CESSNA 172
BEFORE DEPARTING ON A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT STATED HE LOOKED AT A WEATHER RADAR DISPLAY AND DID NOT OBSERVE ADVERSE WEATHER. ABOUT 35 MINUTES AFTER THE FLIGHT'S DEPARTURE, HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, HE SAW RAIN COMING DOWN THE RUNWAY, BUT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH AND LAND. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN, STRONG, WIND GUST, AND LOST FORWARD MOTION (GROUND SPEED). HE BELIEVED THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT REACH THE RUNWAY, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND SHORT. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER LANDING, A STRONG GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE AIRPLANE AND TURNED IT ON ITS LEFT WING TIP. WEATHER NEAR THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED, IN PART AS: 600' SCATTERED, 5000' BROKEN, VISIBILITY 1-3/4 MILE WITH THUNDERSTORMS AND SHOWERS, WIND FROM 080 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING 56 KNOTS.
On June 22, 1995, at 1720 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 172, N2027E, registered to the St. Cloud University of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with the clearway to runway 13 at the St. Cloud Municipal Airport, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed St. Cloud, Minnesota, at 1645 cdt. According to the pilot's written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he checked the weather radar before his departure. He said he did not observe any "...signs of weather before the flight, and the clouds were scattered... ." The pilot continues with his statement: "I proceeded to the final [approach]. There was still no turbulence and no sign of a thunderstorm. Halfway through final when I was committed to landing I saw rain coming down the runway. I worked through the wind and rain when suddenly a strong gust came from the right causing the aircraft to loose ground speed." The pilot said his ground speed reduced to zero during the gust encounter. He said he landed short of the runway after realizing the airplane would not be able to land on the runway. After landing, the pilot said a strong gust of wind picked the airplane up and turned it on its left wing tip. The FAA aviation weather sequence reports for the St. Cloud Municipal Airport stated: 1656 CDT, Clear below 12,000 feet, 7 miles visibility with a thunderstorm, ....thunderstorm south moving north, thunderstorm began at 52 minutes past the hour. At 1704 CDT a special sequence report was issued. It stated, scattered clouds at 400, 5,000 and 7,000 feet, 3/4 mile visibility with a thunderstorm and light rain showers.... surface winds 220 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 56 knots.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW, AND INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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