Rowe Dennis A HIGHLANDER N257DR

Summary

On 10 April 2021 at about 16:20 local time, a Rowe Dennis A HIGHLANDER registered N257DR was involved in an accident near Bluefield, West Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 April 2021 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Bluefield, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Mercer County Airport (BLF)

Coordinates

37.2959, -81.2075

Aircraft

Rowe Dennis A HIGHLANDER

Registration

N257DR

Category

Airplane

Year built

2020

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Apollo → Carrollton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA182

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusty crosswind, which resulted in a ground loop.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the amateur-built, experimental, tailwheel airplane stated that during a cross-country flight, he diverted due to stronger than expected headwinds. He added that the touchdown on the runway at the diversion airport was normal until the airplane veered left after being struck by a strong gust of wind. The pilot attempted to correct with full right brake and full right rudder, but the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The recorded wind at the airport, about 30 minutes after the accident, was a direct left crosswind at 8 knots, gusting to 20 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.