# Accident 20160119000199A: Piper PA-32RT-300, Melfa, VA, January 19, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 19, 2016, 15:15 local time
- Place: Melfa, VA
- Airport: Accomack County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6469° N, 75.7622° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6469&lon=-75.7622&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3046H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3046H-2019-09-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300 (registry code 7103215, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total, 400 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160119000199A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL TO RUNWAY 3 WHEN GUSTING WIND BLEW AIRCRAFT OFF TO SIDE OF RUNWAY.  WINDS REPORTED AT 310 DEGREES (80 DEGREE LEFT CROSSWIND) 15 KNOTS GUSTING TO 37 KNOTS AT TIME OF LANDING.  PILOT EXECUTED A GO AROUND, STARTED TO CLIMB OUT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CAME DOWN OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.  IT THE CONTINUED ACROSS THE GRASS, WENT ACROSS A RAMP AREA, PARTIALLY THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE, AND CAME TO REST BETWEEN A STORAGE SHED AND TELEPHONE POLE.  THE PILOT AND HIS DOG EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT, IT THEN CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

## 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 GAA16CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA110), Jan 19, 2016: Piper PA32RT (N3046H), Melfa, VA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a gusting crosswind during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, impact with a structure, and subsequent postimpact fire.

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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