LAX06CA128

The airplane veered off the runway during landing and collided with a taxiway light and a runway sign. The aircraft has a fully castering nose wheel and directional control is maintained by differential braking and rudder. The pilot said that as he attempted to bring the airplane to a stop after touchdown it began to veer to the left side of the runway in the gusting crosswinds. As the airplane slowed, the pilot could not maintain effective rudder control. The airplane departed the runway surface and collided with a taxiway light and a runway sign, resulting in a 1-foot by 1-foot puncture damage on the lower inboard portion of the left wing. The pilot suggested that the accident could have been prevented if he had executed a balked landing and had gone around for another approach. By the time he realized that he was not going to be able to stop the airplane on the runway, it was too late to execute a go-around procedure. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The winds were from 250 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 15 knots, at the time of the accident.

On March 9, 2006, at 2130 mountain standard time, a Cirrus SR22, N8141L, veered off the runway during landing and collided with a taxiway light and a runway sign at Scottsdale Airport, Scottsdale, Arizona. The commercial pilot, who was also the registered owner of the airplane, was operating it as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot departed from Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, Lubbock, Texas, on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and was landing at his destination when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the Scottsdale area where the pilot canceled his IFR flight plan and landed at Scottsdale under visual flight rules.

The pilot stated that upon canceling his IFR flight plan, he entered the right downwind for a visual approach to runway 21 at Scottsdale. As he attempted to bring the airplane to a stop, it began to veer to the left side of the runway in the gusting winds. The gusts exceeded the limitations of the airplane, and as the airplane slowed, the pilot could not maintain effective rudder control. The airplane departed the runway surface and collided with a taxiway light and a runway sign. The pilot suggested that the accident could have been prevented if he had executed a balked landing and had gone around for another approach. By the time he realized that he was not going to be able to stop the airplane on the runway, it was too late to execute a go-around procedure. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Post accident examination of the airplane showed that a 1-foot by 1-foot area on the lower, inboard portion of the left wing was punctured during the accident sequence.

Airport personnel reported that the winds were from 250 at 9 knots, gusting to 15 at the accident location. At 2153, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Scottsdale reported the following wind conditions: 250 degrees at 8 knots. Airport personnel stated that this weather-recording device is located on the opposite end of the airport from the location of the accident site.

The aircraft has a fully castering nose wheel and directional control is maintained by differential braking and rudder.