Bermuda Dunes, CA, USA
N275HP
Boeing B75N1
The airplane veered off of the runway during landing and nosed over. During the landing roll with a 90-degree right crosswind, the airplane began to weathervane to the right. The pilot applied aft elevator, full left rudder, and full left brake. The left wing contacted the runway, and the airplane departed the runway. It went into sand and came to rest inverted. The airport manager reported that gusty wind conditions existed during the time of the accident.
On November 11, 2002, about 1310 Pacific standard time, a Boeing B75N1, N275HP, veered off runway 28 and nosed over after encountering soft sand while landing at Bermuda Dunes Airport (UDD), Bermuda Dunes, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight originated at the airport at 1230. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that as he was landing on runway 28, a gust of wind caused a loss of directional control and the airplane veered off the runway, into the sand, and nosed over. In a written statement submitted by the pilot, he stated that he made a normal approach to runway 28. He determined that the winds were from 010 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The touchdown was normal on the main wheels approximately 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. He held the crosswind correction until the tail wheel began to drop to the runway. The pilot applied the left brake as the airplane began to weathervane to the right. With "full up elevator," full left rudder, and full left brake applied, the left wing contacted the runway. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and went into the sand. As the airplane contacted the sand with the main gear, the propeller hit the ground and the airplane came to rest inverted. The winds reported at Deserts Resorts Regional Airport, approximately 10 miles southeast of UDD, were from 300 degrees at 5 knots. The winds reported at Palm Springs International Airport, approximately 13 nm northwest of UDD, were from 350 degrees at 8 knots, gusting 15 knots. In a telephone interview with the airport manager, he stated that there were occasional gusts during the time of the accident.
the pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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