KELLEY DERRICK/LEZA AIRCAM near Newport, OR — 2017-12-23

Final reportWPR18LA055

Date: 2017-12-23
Location: Newport, OR, USA
Airport: ONP
Aircraft: KELLEY DERRICK/LEZA AIRCAM
Registration: N959M
Category: Airplane
Highest injury: Minor
Fatalities: 0
Phase of flight: Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while on final approach for landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine, experimental, amateur-built airplane was landing with a right crosswind. The pilot turned onto final approach for the runway and the airplane banked left and began to descend. The pilot attempted to correct, but the bank and heading change persisted, the airplane's descent rate increased, and the airplane impacted trees and the ground short of the runway threshold. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to both wings. Examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the airplane encountered a crosswind during final approach, and the pilot was unable to regain control before impact with trees and terrain.