NTSB Factual Report

On July 28, 2001, approximately 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N6798B, was substantially damaged when it collided with a ditch following a loss of control during landing at Spanish Fork, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Provo, Utah, approximately 1550.

The pilot departed Spanish Fork earlier that day, and flew to Provo, where he purchased fuel for the airplane. He departed Provo and was returning to Spanish Fork when the accident occurred. According to his accident report, he was on a left downwind leg for runway 30 when he noticed a strong 90 degree crosswind. After turning from base leg onto final approach, the pilot corrected for a "strong wind" out of the southwest. The pilot said the airplane was in "a serious side slip configuration (aileron hard left, right rudder)" as it approached the runway. The left wheel touched down. Just before the right wheel touched down, a "strong" wind gust from the southwest lifted the airplane back into the air, and the pilot decided to abort the landing. He added full power and lowered the nose since the stall warning was sounding. He felt the airplane touch down twice in dirt, and bounce twice. Thereafter, his only recollection of the accident was spinning around and coming to a halt in a ditch.

According to the pilot, the left wing and all landing gear "sheared" from the fuselage, and the engine and tail section were partially separated.

At 1555, the recorded winds at Provo, Utah, located 6 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, were from 230 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 18 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a loss of control during landing. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind.