FLIGHTSTAR II N677NC accident near York, South Carolina

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty wind conditions.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot was attempting to land an experimental airplane on a grass runway. As the airplane descended to treetop level on final approach, it encountered a sudden decrease in airspeed and a rapid rate of descent. After arresting the descent the airplane caught a gust of wind and the left wing rose almost vertically and pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot was able to correct the right roll; however, the airplane impacted a fence and continued about 10 feet before colliding with the side of a hangar resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would preclude normal operations, and stated that he should have attempted to land with a faster airspeed due to the gusty wind conditions.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13CA255 for the full record.