# Accident 20000406006009A: Piper PA24, Herlong, CA, April 6, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 6, 2000, 19:30 local time - Place: Herlong, CA - Airport: Herlong Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.1401° N, 120.1600° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1401&lon=-120.1600&mi=10 - Aircraft: N180BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N180BC-2023-09-16) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-24 (registry code 7102402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA24 - Reported engine: LYC O360A1A - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 2,600 total, 2,380 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA147) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000406006009A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) PILOT REPORTED THAT HE CIRCLED THE HERLONG AIRPORT TWICE, NOTING THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS BLOWING INTERMITTENTLY IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. UPON LANDING, THE WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE OFF OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE PULLED THE MIXTURE CONTROL BEFORE HITTING THE FENCE. THE AIRPLANE WINGS SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE STEEL FENCE POSTS. (.4)ON APRIL 6, 2000, AT 1930 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-24, N180BC, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A METAL FENCE AFTER LANDING AT THE HERLONG, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91, HAD ORIGINATED IN CRESWELL, OREGON, ABOUT 1800, AND WAS TERMINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE WIND CONDITIONS, HE PERFORMED A NORMAL LANDING TO RUNWAY 24. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, WHILE AT ABOUT 50 MPH, A STRONG GUST OF WIND HIT HIM FROM THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT OFF THE RUNWAY, THEN CONTINUED THROUGH A METAL FENCE AND INTO A FIELD. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, AILERON, AND LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT HERLONG AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 25 TO 35 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 35 KNOTS AND HIGHER. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THERE IS NO PUBLISHED MAXIMUM CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE PA-24. ## 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 LAX00LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA147), Apr 7, 2000: Piper PA-24 (N180BC), Herlong, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusting crosswind conditions. ## Other reports on N180BC (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20210828015129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210828015129I), Aug 28, 2021: Piper PA-24 (N180BC), Memphis, TN, Minor damage. Departed K6M2 horseshoe bend ar at approx. 6:15PM. On departure pilot stated "gear up light did not come on and smelled a burning smell. The circuit breaker… - [Incident 20040509009999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040509009999I), May 9, 2004: Piper PA24 (N180BC), Coeur D Alene, ID, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot had purchased the aircraft on 5/08/04 and was flying home to new kent, VA 23124-2622. When he tried to land at Coeur d'Alene, ID for fuel, he… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.