- Date
- June 13, 1998, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Destin, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N55369Piper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980613023649A
- Case key
- 3999
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and her failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during an attempted go-around. A factor was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that as she approached Destin for a full stop landing, she became aware of another aircraft that was involved in an accident earlier on runway 32 at Destin. The airplane was still on a portion of the runway. The pilot continued the approach to runway 14 and upon seeing the accident aircraft she became distracted and decided to go around after encountering a wind gust about 20 feet above the ground. The pilot applied full power and attempted a go-around. The pilot reported that as the airplane started to climb, it also drifted left of the runway centerline. The airplane continued to drift to the left until the airplane collided with trees near the runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. The prevailing winds were 240 degrees at 13 knots, with gusts to 23 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 13, 1998, at 1330 Central Daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N55369, collided with trees, according to the pilot, during an attempted go-around at the Destin/Fort Walton Beach Airport in Destin, Florida. The personal flight, operated by the pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. A review of current weather data recovered from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that, visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aircraft sustained substantial airframe damage. The private rated pilot and two passengers received minor injuries; one passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed Tallahassee, Florida, at 1200.
The pilot stated that as she approached Destin for a full stop landing, she became aware of another aircraft that was involved in an accident earlier on runway 32 at Destin. The airplane was still on a portion of the runway. The pilot continued the approach to runway 14 and upon seeing the accident aircraft she became distracted and decided to go around after encountering a wind gust about 20 feet above the ground. The pilot applied full power and attempted a go-around. The pilot reported that as the airplane started to climb, it also drifted left of the runway centerline. The airplane continued to drift to the left until the airplane collided with trees near the runway. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. The prevailing winds were 240 degrees at 13 knots, with gusts to 23 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55369
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7305368
- Airframe hours
- 5,694
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bobby Collison
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 28, 1997 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- TLH · Tallahassee, FL
- Destination
- DTS
- Airport
- DST · Destin/Ft Walton Beach, runway 32, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 312 total · 305 in this make and model · 184 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DTS, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N55369 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.