Stinson 108-2 N2721L accident near Titusville, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in variable wind conditions, which resulted in runway excursion and collision with an approach light.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported flying the airplane around the airport traffic pattern to warm up the engine prior to an engine oil filter change. During the landing roll of his second full stop landing, the pilot described that the wind abruptly changed direction and speed and he lost directional control of the airplane. Unable to initiate corrective maneuvers in time, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway into the grass, where it subsequently struck an precision approach path indicator light resulting in substantial damage to the airplane’s right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA210 for the full record.