Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA accident near Moundsville, West Virginia, June 9, 2016
On June 9, 2016 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2008 Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, registered N323TC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Moundsville, West Virginia (Marshall County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the go-around in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2016 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Moundsville, West Virginia · Marshall County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA JF, built 2008 · all P2002 SIERRAs on the register
- Registration
- N323TC · no longer on the register · serial 327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that as the airplane entered the landing flare, a crosswind gust "picked up the right wing." He further reported that he applied full power to go-around, and the airplane drifted to the left. Subsequently, the airplane struck trees next to the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and both wings. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest automated weather observing station, which was 18 nautical miles north of the accident airport, about the time of the accident, reported the wind at 320 degrees true at 10 knots gusting to 16 knots. The pilot reported that he landed on a runway with a 240 degrees magnetic heading.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 506 hours in all; 2.5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,366 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HYX Saginaw MI at 2:40 pm
- Destination: MPG Moundsville WV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 3,301 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KHLG, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N323TC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.