Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1A N391C accident near Marfa, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control while landing in gusty winds.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot was using his single-engine airplane to conduct an aerial survey of his ranch when he noted a trough that was overflowing. He elected to land at the nearby 1,100-foot-long dirt airstrip so that he could fix the water problem. During landing, the pilot encountered a gust of wind and the airplane bounced, traveling beyond the point where an aborted landing could be safely achieved due to a row of power lines. The pilot first applied brakes, which caused the tail to rise, but not enough to slow the airplane down to a full stop. He then applied full brakes, subsequently flipping the airplane over and resulting in damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA352 for the full record.