Kanona Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kanona, New York 14856
Friday, June 26, 2009 12:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot departed the private airpark for a local flight after being advised via radio that convective weather was approaching the area. Upon noticing the weather, the pilot decided to return to the airpark and land. During the landing, a strong crosswind pushed the aircraft toward the right side of the runway and the right wing struck a bush. The aircraft subsequently flipped upside down, resulting in substantial damage and serious injury to the pilot. About the time of the landing, a witness noted that the airport windsock was "straight out," indicating a crosswind to the runway. The aircraft had a placarded limitation of a 14 knot maximum crosswind component, and the pilot had a restriction on his student pilot certificate limiting him to flying in winds of 10 knots or less.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of control while landing in convective weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was his misjudgment of the approaching weather.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Kanona
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14856
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422219N
Event Location Longitude 0772156W
Event Location Airport Kanona Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1144
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1321 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID DSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 662
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.74
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26088
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 22 2009 3:22PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N308AA
NTSB Number ERA09LA400
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name APOLLO AIRCRAFT INC
Aircraft Model MONSOON
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 00002
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MEDNICK LARRY S
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14197 WADSWORTH DR
Aircraft Owner City ODESSA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33556-4303
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James E. Richards
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Kanona
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Kanona
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 22 2009 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --