CHI06CA166

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Walworth, WI · June 25, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 25, 2006, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
Walworth, WI
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N1910TPiper PA-28-140
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA-Milwaukee FSDO
FAA report
20060625012979A
Case key
64102

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's delay in initiating a go-around and the resulting failure to maintain clearance to the vehicle on the adjacent roadway. The short length of the runway selected by the pilot and the vehicle were contributing factors.

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.

In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Go-around - delayedPilot in commandCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - short runway/landing areaFactor
Object - vehicleFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterGo-around (vfr)
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The airplane was substantially damaged when the right wing struck a vehicle on a roadway adjacent to the runway during a go-around attempt. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The pilot stated that he entered a left downwind for runway 36 (2,108 feet by 100 feet, turf). He noted that the downwind, base and final traffic pattern legs were "normal." He reported that the final approach flown would have allowed the airplane to touchdown within the initial one-third of the runway length. He stated, "Close to touchdown I experienced a float and what I believe was a strong wind shear." He reported that he applied full engine power and initiated a go-around, however, the right wing tip subsequently struck a minivan on an adjacent roadway. The airplane continued approximately 600 feet and came to rest in a cornfield. The pilot reported no malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that the accident might have been avoided by initiating a go-around "at the first sign of any trouble especially on a runway that is only 2100 [feet] long."

Factual narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when the right wing struck a vehicle on a roadway adjacent to the runway during a go-around attempt. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The pilot stated that he entered a left downwind for runway 36 (2,108 feet by 100 feet, turf) at Big Foot Airfield (7V3), Walworth, Wisconsin. He noted that the downwind, base and final traffic pattern legs were "normal." He reported that the final approach flown would have allowed the airplane to touch down within the initial one-third of the runway length. He stated, "Close to touch down I experienced a float and what I believe was a strong wind shear." He reported that he applied full engine power and initiated a go-around, however, the right wing tip subsequently struck a minivan on an adjacent roadway. The airplane continued approximately 600 feet and came to rest in a cornfield. The pilot reported no malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident. He noted that the accident might have been avoided by initiating a go-around "at the first sign of any trouble especially on a runway that is only 2100 [feet] long."

Aircraft

Registration
N1910T
Reported as
Piper PA-28-140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-7125464
Airframe hours
4,899
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · December 1, 2005
Departed
UES · Waukesha, WI
Destination
7V3 · Walworth, WI
Airport
7V3 · Big Foot Airfield, runway 36, 2,108 × 100 ft, grass/turf

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
49
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,150 total · 987 in this make and model · 1,133 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
3,600 ft broken
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
JVL, 20 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.