# Accident 19970422006329A: Piper PA32R300, Augusta, GA, April 22, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 1997, 20:50 local time
- Place: Augusta, GA
- Airport: Bush Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3508° N, 81.9707° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3508&lon=-81.9707&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1321H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1321H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC IO540K1G5D
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 176 total, 26 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970422006329A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TRIED TO LAND WITH THUNDERSTORM OVERHEAD. ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WIND SHEAR. LOST CONTROL. LANDED HARD. FOLDED GEAR. (-23) BEFORE ARRIVAL AT AGS, PIC DEAS RECEIVED WEATHER INFORMATION THAT WOULD HAVE CONVINCED A MORE EXPERIENCED PILOT TO STAY CLEAR OF THE AREA UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORM HAD PASSED.  HE WAS NOT LOW ON FUEL, AND THE CLOUD FORMATIONS WERE SUCH THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD NO DIFFICULTY REMAINING VFR.  INSTEAD, HE BORED RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF A CLASSICAL SET OF SHIFTING WINDS OF INCREASING VELOCITY.  TWO MINUTES BEFORE CRASH-DOWN HE WAS GIVEN "260/56" (PRACTICALLY A DIRECT CROSS-WIND) AND ANSWERED "AFFIRMATIVE."  NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE LANDING GEAR WAS UNABLE TO WITHSTAND THE STRESSES GENERATED ON CONTACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA145), Apr 23, 1997: Piper PA-32R-300 (N1321H), Augusta, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during the landing flare, and collision with the terrain. The adverse weather with nearby…

## Other reports on N1321H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19800818036529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800818036529A), Aug 18, 1980: Piper PA32R300 (N1321H), Syracuse, IN, Substantial damage. Unable to accelerate on runway with soft ground and wet grass. Pulled it off at runway end settled into tall corn.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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