MIA98LA050

The pilot stated that during the approach phase, there was a moderate crosswind (approximately 10 knots) from the east. He corrected for the crosswind by banking the aircraft into the wind. He further stated, that shortly before the runway threshold, a gust of wind from the west raised the aircraft's wing. He tried to take corrective action using rudder and aileron. The aircraft banked to the right, and the pilot tried to pull up as the aircraft went into a nose down attitude. The pilot was not able to fully recover from the sudden change in the aircraft's attitude. As a result of this, the aircraft hit the ground with the nosewheel, and the nosewheel separated from the aircraft. The propeller, and later the cowling, hit the runway. According to the airport manager, the pilot had called on the UNICOM frequency and asked for current weather. The airport manager advised the pilot of a '15 to 20 knot crosswind,' based on his observation of the airport windsock.

On January 2, 1998, about 1354 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N757VT, registered to Ormond Beach Aviation Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, crashed while landing at the Everglades Airpark, Everglades City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Ormond Beach, Florida, at 1100.

According to the pilot, "...during the approach phase there was a moderate crosswind (approximately 10 knots) from the east." He stated that to correct for the crosswind he "banked the aircraft into the wind." The pilot further stated, "...at or shortly before the runway threshold a gust from the west raised the aircraft's wing. I tried to take corrective action using rudder and aileron. The aircraft banked to the right and I tried to pull up as the aircraft went into a nose down attitude. I was not able to fully recover from the sudden change in the aircraft's attitude and as a result of this the aircraft hit the ground with the nosewheel. As the speed of the aircraft was still relatively high...the nose wheel was separated from the aircraft and the propeller and later the cowling hit the runway. After approximately 300 feet the aircraft came to a stop."

According to the airport manager, the pilot of N757VT called on the UNICOM frequency and asked for current weather. The airport manager advised the pilot of a "15 to 20 knot crosswind," based on his observation of the airport windsock.