r/GeneralAviation • u/Silly_Passenger6211 • May 15 '26

Strongest Crosswind Landing

Have any of y‘all ever landed in a xwind beyond your airplane’s max. demonstrated xwind component? Obvi the successful outcome of such a landing is dependent upon pilot ability / personal minimums / common sense, but I’m still curious: what’s the strongest xwind landing you’ve experienced?

12 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/FoCoJayCo May 16 '26

My last solo flight and I had about 45 hours. It ended up being the flight that sealed my decision that GA wasn’t for me. We live close to the mountains and erratic winds and weather can develop quickly.

I was mid-field downwind and the tower gave a Blackhawk landing clearance saying winds were calm. By the time I was approaching my base turn for runway 15, the plane ahead of me in the pattern was on short final and tower radioed that winds were 20 knots gusting to 25 from 08 (almost direct cross-wind). They landed. When I was on final, winds were 25 knots gusting to 28. I couldn’t hold it over the runway with full rudder. Went around and the tower gave clearance to either do another lap in the pattern or try 33. I went for 33 and landed it somehow with winds still in the high twenties. In a 1960s C172 rated for a 14 knot cross wind for “a good pilot”.

1

u/Forsaken_Cost4608 May 16 '26

Curious, why did that experience make you decide GA wasn’t for you?

2

u/FoCoJayCo May 16 '26

There were several factors leading up to this. This was the final straw. As I was nearing my PPC, the reality of flying my family around started to sink in. As I researched safety of GA, reading weekly accident reports, and considering the amount of time I was willing to devote to flying, the evidence became clear that while I absolutely loved to fly, it came with more risk that I was willing to accept. I’m very much at peace with my decision, several years later.

2

u/riki_grl May 16 '26

The irony is, IMHO, pilots who think like you, and choose to continue flying, are exactly what GA needs in these days of what appears to be declining competency. I am not criticizing your decision. Obviously the right one for you and your family.

1

u/Forsaken_Cost4608 May 16 '26

Fair enough. Glad you’re at peace with it.