- Date
- July 17, 1989, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Chippewa Falls, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8005WPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890717025549A
- Case key
- 14383
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 while attempting to land in crosswind conditions. During the ensuing aborted landing, the pilot failed to ensure adequate obstacle clearance and the aircraft's left wing struck the wind sock pole.
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
During an attempt to land with a 15-20 knot right crosswind, the pilot 'pushed left rudder just before touchdown' but stated that he must have pushed too hard, because the aircraft touched down 'at a slight angle to the left.' The pilot aborted the landing when the aircraft started to angle off the left side of the runway. Shortly after the aircraft became airborne, at an altitude of approximately 4 feet AGL, the left wing struck a wind sock pole and separated from the rest of the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8005W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-2066
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thompson, Donald J.
- Registered owner
- The 180 Club" C/O James Dierke
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 21, 1988 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- AHH · Amery, WI
- Destination
- 3WI9 · Chippewa Falls, WI
- Airport
- 3W19 · Chippewa Falls, runway 18, 2,600 × 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
- 68
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 210 total · 100 in this make and model · 150 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EAU, 9 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 N8005W · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.