N8487XCessna 172C · 1961

The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, a wind gust "lifted the up wing 90 degrees." She leveled the wings and added full power. When wings were leveled the airplane was over a drainage ditch between the runway and parallel taxiway. She realized that the airplane would not gain enough airspeed to "make the [taxiway]", so she intentionally aerodynamically stalled the airplane to "prevent flipping the plane." The airplane impacted in the drainage ditch.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right and left wing.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported that automated weather observation system (AWOS) reported the wind was 310° at 14 knots, gusting to 23 knots. A weather station, located about 2 miles to the southwest of the accident airport, about the time of the accident reported the wind was from 311° at 2.7 mph, gusting to 12.1 mph. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 35.