CHI00LA022

The pilot stated he encountered a 40-degree crosswind at 12 to 14 knots during the landing on runway 17 and said the wind caused the plane to go to the left side of the runway. He applied full right rudder and right brake. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a tree. The airplane's bottom fuselage buckled and the landing gear collapsed. The pilot said the airplane did not have any anomalies prior to the accident. In the pilot's written statement, he stated he 'suspected failure of right nose gear steering' and that '...trees are within 40 to 50 feet of runway.' An examination of the airplane revealed control continuity to all flight control surfaces and that the nose gear rotated within an estimated 60-degree steering arc when the rudder pedals were moved. The Type Certificate Data Sheet, A7SO, specified the nose gear rotation to be (+/- 1 degree) left 27 degrees and (+/- 1 degree) right 27 degrees.

On November 5, 1999, at 1015 central standard time, a Piper, PA-34-200T, N3073V, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and vegetation during a landing on runway 17 (3,899 feet X 74 feet, dry/asphalt) at Hannibal Municipal Airport, near Hannibal, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan approximately 5 miles north of Hannibal. There were no reported injuries. The flight originated from Rochester International Airport, near Rochester, Minnesota at 0825.

In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he encountered a crosswind as he performed his landing on runway 17. He reported the wind to be a 40-degree crosswind at 12 to 14 knots. He said that the wind caused the plane to go to the left side of the runway. He stated that he applied full right rudder and right brake. The pilot said that the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a tree. He stated that the airplane's bottom fuselage buckled and the landing gear collapsed. He said that the airplane did not have any anomalies prior to the accident.

At 0950, the Quincy Municipal, Baldwin Field Airport weather was: Wind 240 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 21 knots; visibility 15 statute miles; sky condition few 22,000 feet; temperature 18 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.19 inches of mercury.

In the pilot's written statement, he stated that he "suspected failure of right nose gear steering." The pilot further reported that "...trees are within 40 to 50 feet of runway."

On November 19, 1999, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator examined the accident airplane. The examination revealed that there was control continuity to all flight control surfaces. The examination further revealed that the nose gear rotated within an estimated 60-degree steering arc when the rudder pedals were moved. The Type Certificate Data Sheet, A7SO, specified the nose gear rotation to be (+/- 1 degree) left 27 degrees and (+/- 1 degree) right 27 degrees.