- Date
- July 29, 2012, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Keokuk, IA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6834KPiper PA-16
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120729016559A
- Case key
- 84543
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 loss of directional control during the landing roll in a variable crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
As the airplane approached the destination airport, the pilot monitored the airport’s automated weather reporting station. The pilot stated that the airport’s reported wind changed from 160 degrees at 7 knots, to 200 degrees at 9 knots, and then to 180 degrees at 8 knots as they got closer to the airport. The pilot added that he initially planned to land on runway 26, but, upon circling the airport, he noted that the windsock favored runway 8. During the landing roll on runway 8, the airplane’s right wing lifted. The pilot stated that he was unable to lower the wing, and the airplane veered right and continued off the side of the runway. The airplane came rest in the grass with substantial damage to the fuselage just forward of the empennage. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot and two passengers departed on a cross-country flight. As they approached their destination airport, the pilot monitored the airport’s automated weather reporting station. The pilot stated the airport’s wind condition changed from 160 degrees at 7 knots, to 200 degrees at 9 knots, and then to 180 degrees at 8 knots, as they got closer to the airport. The pilot added that he made his initial approach to runway 26, but upon circling the airport, the windsock favored runway 8. During the landing roll, the airplane’s right wing lifted. The pilot stated he was unable to lower the wing, the airplane veered right, and continued off the side of runway 8. The airplane came rest in the grass, with substantial damage to the fuselage, just forward of the empennage. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6834K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-16
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 16-669
- Airframe hours
- 2,538
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Willis Clifton L
- Registered owner
- Willis Clifton L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 2011
- Departed
- KOSH · Oshkosh, WI
- Destination
- KEOK · Keokuk, IA
- Airport
- KEOK · Keokuk Municipal Airport, runway 08, 3,600 × 100 ft, concrete
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
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 9, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 377 total · 21 in this make and model · 216 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KEOK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.