SEA99LA164

The pilot flew over the airport to check the wind, and the windsock appeared to indicate that the wind was calm. She therefore continued around the pattern and landed on the end of the runway that was asphalt covered. During the flare, the aircraft dropped in from about four feet above the surface and bounced back into the air. Before it touched down again, it encountered a sudden crosswind from the right, which lifted the right wing higher into the air. Because the aircraft was in a left bank, it started to drift off the left side of the runway, and the pilot was unable to maintain enough directional control to keep it from departing the runway and impacting some nearby trees.

On September 16, 1999, approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N22WR, collided with trees during a landing at Crescent Lake State Airport, Crescent Lake, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Jackson County Airport, Medford, Oregon, about one hour earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot had been on a VFR flight plan, and the ELT, which was activated by the accident, was turned off at the scene.

According to the pilot, when she overflew the airport, the wind sock appeared to indicate that the wind was calm. She therefore decided to land on runway 31 because the southeast end of the runway is covered with asphalt and the northwest end is dirt. While in the traffic pattern and on final, the pilot did not notice any change in the wind, so she continued the approach to runway 31. While the aircraft was in the landing flare, it "...unexpectedly dropped the last four feet" and bounced back into the air. According to the pilot, before the aircraft touched down again, it made a "...dramatic, steep left turn toward the trees." The pilot tried to realign the aircraft with the runway, but was unable to do so. It therefore departed the left side of the runway and impacted tall trees growing along the edge of the strip.

In telephone conversation with the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), about one-half hour after the accident, the pilot said that she believed that a sudden right crosswind gust had lifted the right wing of the aircraft after it bounced back into the air. She further stated that she felt the force of the gust held the aircraft in a left bank long enough to make it drift off the left side of the runway.

During the investigation the IIC talked with individuals who live in the area, and they reported that because of the tall trees surrounding the airstrip and the breezes that come off of Crescent Lake, the winds near the runway are sometimes "unpredictable and squirrelly."

It was noted during the investigation that the Oregon State Airport Directory contains the following statement: "Warning Airport: This is a warning airport. It does not conform to normal airport dimensional standards, and it also may require special techniques and procedures to use."