What happened
NTSB summary, verbatimThe solo certificated commercial pilot of the Title 14, CFR 135, cargo flight was attempting to land the airplane on a 1,850 foot long by 50 foot wide gravel-covered airstrip. Several witnesses reported gusty east-southeast winds, ranging between 25 and 40 knots, blowing directly across the runway. They reported that as the airplane proceeded on its final approach to runway 19, which required a correction for a left crosswind, the airplane "floated down the runway" after passing over the runway threshold, and eventually touched down about mid-field. As it touched down, the airplane bounced twice, which was immediately followed by the sound of full engine power. As it began to climb, the airplane made a sharp right turn to the west, to avoid terrain at the end of the runway. As the westerly turn continued, the airplane climbed to about 150 feet, over the ocean waters to the south of the airport. The witnesses said that the nose of the airplane then pitched up, and the left wing suddenly dropped. The airplane subsequently descended, struck the surface of the ocean, and sank in 30 feet of water about 200 yards from shore. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Pilots who regularly use the accident airport stated that they routinely encounter substantial downdrafts on final approach to runway 19 when the prevailing strong east-southeast winds are present. The pilots added that when the east-southeasterly winds are blowing, the approach requires a significant correction for a left crosswind. A pilot who had recently departed from the accident airport, talked with the accident pilot via radio about 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot told the accident pilot, in part: "Be careful. You've got the typical strong southeast winds blowing right across the runway."
Probable cause
the Board's determinationThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an aborted landing, resulting in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with water. Factors were the high velocity crosswind conditions, the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his delay in aborting the landing.
NTSB analysis
from the final reportThe solo certificated commercial pilot of the Title 14, CFR 135, cargo flight was attempting to land the airplane on a 1,850 foot long by 50 foot wide gravel-covered airstrip. Several witnesses reported gusty east-southeast winds, ranging between 25 and 40 knots, blowing directly across the runway. They reported that as the airplane proceeded on its final approach to runway 19, which required a correction for a left crosswind, the airplane "floated down the runway" after passing over the runway threshold, and eventually touched down about mid-field. As it touched down, the airplane bounced twice, which was immediately followed by the sound of full engine power. As it began to climb, the airplane made a sharp right turn to the west, to avoid terrain at the end of the runway. As the westerly turn continued, the airplane climbed to about 150 feet, over the ocean waters to the south of the airport. The witnesses said that the nose of the airplane then pitched up, and the left wing suddenly dropped. The airplane subsequently descended, struck the surface of the ocean, and sank in 30 feet of water about 200 yards from shore. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Pilots who regularly use the accident airport stated that they routinely encounter substantial downdrafts on final approach to runway 19 when the prevailing strong east-southeast winds are present. The pilots added that when the east-southeasterly winds are blowing, the approach requires a significant correction for a left crosswind. A pilot who had recently departed from the accident airport, talked with the accident pilot via radio about 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot told the accident pilot, in part: "Be careful. You've got the typical strong southeast winds blowing right across the runway."