What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot who many years ago had owned and flown for 800 hours a J-3 aircraft, had just purchaced PA-16. After three landings departed on a cross country flight to bring the aircraft to his home. When nearing dvt pilot listeden to tower working approaching aircraft calling winds as gusting around 12 knots at 140 degrees. The last report pilot heard, just as aircraft touched down was 160 @16 when and immediatly expierence a crosswind gust. Pilot controlled what he describes as three ossilations terminating in a final weathervane into the wind that caused the left gear to fold under when the aircraft was traveling at an estimated speed of 20 knots. The left wing struck the ground with significant damage to the wing spar.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WHO MANY YEARS AGO HAD OWNED AND FLOWN FOR 800 HOURS A J-3 AIRCRAFT, HAD JUST PURCHACED PA-16. AFTER THREE LANDINGS DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO HIS HOME. WHEN NEARING DVT PILOT LISTEDEN TO TOWER WORKING APPROACHING AIRCRAFT CALLING WINDS AS GUSTING AROUND 12 KNOTS AT 140 DEGREES. THE LAST REPORT PILOT HEARD, JUST AS AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN WAS 160 @16 WHEN AND IMMEDIATLY EXPIERENCE A CROSSWIND GUST. PILOT CONTROLLED WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS THREE OSSILATIONS TERMINATING IN A FINAL WEATHERVANE INTO THE WIND THAT CAUSED THE LEFT GEAR TO FOLD UNDER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRAVELING AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 20 KNOTS. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WING SPAR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.