Kenai, AK, USA
N354B
Bailey Merlin GT
The private pilot of the experimental airplane elected to land with a quartering tailwind to meld in with traffic. He said the airplane bounced on the initial touchdown, and upon touching down the second time, a gust of wind from the left and behind, lifted the left wing and the airplane became airborne. He applied full power to abort the landing, but the airplane settled and impacted the runway, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the left wing.
On September 11, 2004, about 1640 Alaska daylight time, an experimental Bailey Merlin GT airplane, N354B, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an aborted landing at the Kenai Airport, Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 11, the pilot said he elected to land with a quartering tailwind to meld in with traffic. He said the airplane bounced on the initial touch down, and upon touching down the second time, a gust of wind from the left and behind, lifted the left wing, and the airplane became airborne. He said he applied full power to abort the landing, but the airplane settled and impacted the runway, collapsing the landing gear. The pilot indicated in addition to the landing gear, the left wing was damaged. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the landing roll, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain during the subsequent aborted landing. A factor associated with the accident was a gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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