NTSB Factual Report

On October 1, 2004, at 1705 Pacific daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-22/20, N2849Z, impacted the terrain during an attempted landing at Rogue Valley International Airport, Medford, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned by another individual, sustained substantial damage. The 14CFR Part 91 personal proficiency flight, which originated at the same airport about 35 minutes earlier, was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who was practicing touch-and-go landings in crosswind conditions, during his first landing there was a 40 degree crosswind at five knots. As he was cleared for his second landing, the tower advised him that the wind had changed direction and speed, and he was therefore landing in a 60 degree crosswind of seven knots. According to the pilot, during the landing flare, he relaxed his "cross control input" too much, and the aircraft's left wing began to lift. He therefore elected to execute a go-around, but as he added power the aircraft began rotating to the left. He therefore elected to try to put the aircraft back onto the runway, but as it touched down, the aircraft was not aligned with the runway, and it therefore quickly veered to the left. As the aircraft departed the side of the runway, the tip of its right wing came in contact with the terrain resulting in substantial damage to the wing's internal structure.

In a telephone interview with the Investigator-In-charge (IIC), the pilot said that there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, and that the accident was simply a result of his failure to adequately control the aircraft in the crosswind conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during landing, resulting in his failure to maintain directional control. Factors include the presence of crosswinds.