Sandusky, OH, USA
N114JG
Commander Aircraft Company 114-B
The pilot reported that the final approach with a left crosswind was uneventful. He stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, slightly right of the runway centerline. The subsequent landing roll was uneventful for approximately 40 to 60 yards, and then the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot's application of right rudder and full right brake were not successful in regaining directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into an area of soft grass and then swerved back onto the runway before coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the main landing gear brake components and nose landing gear steering system did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented their normal operation. The pilot reported that there was a left crosswind of 6 knots during the landing attempt to the east. A nearby weather station reported that, during the hour following the accident, the wind velocity increased from 6 to 12 knots with 17 knot gusts. The same weather reports also indicated that the wind direction changed from a northerly to northwesterly direction during the same time period.
On May 4, 2011, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Commander Aircraft Company model 114-B airplane, N114JG, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway during landing at Griffing Sandusky Airport (KSKY), Sandusky, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The personal flight originated from Kelleys Island Airport (89D), Kellys Island, Ohio, at 1340. The pilot reported that the final approach to runway 9 (3,559 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) was uneventful and that the wing flaps were fully extended during the landing attempt. He noted that there was a left crosswind of about 6 knots that required a left aileron input to maintain the runway centerline. He stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, slightly right of the runway centerline. The subsequent landing roll was uneventful for approximately 40-60 yards before the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot's application of right rudder and full right brake were not successful in regaining directional control. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into an area of soft grass. The airplane subsequently swerved back onto the runway before coming to rest. A postaccident inspection revealed that the right main landing gear had collapsed, the nose wheel strut was displaced about 10-degrees right of vertical, the engine firewall was buckled at several locations, and there was damage to the fuselage lower skins and structural bulkheads. Further examination of the main landing gear brake components and nose landing gear steering system did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented their normal operation. The nearest aviation weather observation station with recorded historical weather information was at Lorain County Regional Airport (KLPR), about 25 miles east-southeast of the accident site, which was equipped with an automated surface observing system (ASOS). At 1353, the KLPR ASOS reported the following weather conditions: Wind 360 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 10 miles; broken ceilings at 5,500 and 8,000 feet above ground level (agl); temperature 9 degrees Celsius; dew point 3 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.29 inches of mercury. At 1453, the KLPR ASOS reported the following weather conditions: Wind 330 degrees at 12 knots, gusting 17 knots; visibility 10 miles; few clouds at 3,000 feet agl; temperature 10 degrees Celsius; dew point 3 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.28 inches of mercury.
The pilot's inadequate directional control while landing in a variable crosswind.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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