Accident Van's RV-4 N517A, Monday 8 November 1999

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Date:	Monday 8 November 1999
Time:	14:35 LT
Type:	Van's RV-4
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N517A
MSN:	815
Total airframe hrs:	240 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-320-E2A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	North Platte, NE - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Santa Fe, NM (KSAF)
Destination airport:	(KLBF)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot reported that during the landing flare, the wind 'weathercocked' the airplane to the right. The pilot stated that he added left rudder and power and as the airplane, '...came straight the wind got under the R [right] wing and lifted it vertical.' The pilot reported that the left wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane cartwheeled hitting the nose, then the right wingtip, and finally the tail. The airplane came to rest in an up-right attitude.

Probable Cause: aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the crosswind weather condition.

Accident investigation: