Amateur-built Highlander N442DU accident near Forest Lake, Minnesota

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during a gusty crosswind landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was conducting a flight test of the experimental amateur-built airplane. He was returning to make a full stop landing when during the landing flare a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to drift left and depart off the left runway edge. The airplane then descended an embankment and nosed over. The upper portion of the rudder and a right-wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Based on the reported wind direction and speed at an airport located about 13 nautical miles from the accident site, there was likely a gusting left crosswind component of about 4 to 6 knots at the time of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA375 for the full record.