LAX07CA092

The airplane drug both wing tips while landing in gusty crosswind conditions. The flight instructor reported that about 4 miles from the airport they attempted to contact the airstrip on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to obtain wind and airport advisories, but were unsuccessful in raising anyone. They then overflew the airport and looked for wind indicators, but did not find any. The instructor then used a nearby lake to judge the winds and decided to land on runway 36. Applying wind correction on final approach, the instructor landed on the center of the runway. A sudden and very strong wind gust turned the airplane to the right. The instructor said she attempted to correct with left rudder but was unable to maintain control and both wing tips contacted the ground, structurally damaging both wings. The instructor stated that there were no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. An aviation weather reporting station, located 9 nautical miles west, listed the winds as from the west at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots.

On February 14, 2007, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172S, N289SP, drug both wing tips while landing at the Chalet Suzanne Airstrip, Lake Wells, Florida. The airplane was operated by ADF Airways Corporation under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations as an instructional flight and sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor and a dual primary student, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at the Tamiami Executive Airport, Miami, Florida, at 1415, with a planned destination of Lake Wells.

In a written statement, the flight instructor reported that about 4 miles from the airport they attempted to contact the Chalet Suzanne Airstrip on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to obtain wind and airport advisories, but were unsuccessful in raising anyone. They then overflew the airport and looked for wind indicators, but did not find any. The instructor then used a nearby lake to judge the winds and decided to land on runway 36. Applying wind correction on final approach, the instructor landed on the center of the runway. A sudden and very strong wind gust turned the airplane to the right. The instructor said she attempted to correct with left rudder but was unable to maintain control and both wing tips contacted the ground, structurally damaging both wings. The instructor stated that there were no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

The closest aviation weather reporting station is the Bortow, Florida, airport that is located 9 nautical miles west of Lake Wells. The 1355 METAR listed the winds as from 250 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 25 knots. At 1451, the report showed the winds as from 260 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots.