- Date
- May 24, 1991, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- St. Charles, MO
- Injuries
- 3 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N931VNPiper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 9, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910524017519A
- Case key
- 15071
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 of the airplane during the takeoff ground run. Factors related to the accident were the gusty crosswind conditions, the pilot's lack of total experience and the vehicles which the airplane contacted.
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 the takeoff roll on runway 18, the airplane veered to the left of the runway and traveled into the grass where the airplane contacted a grain wagon and a pick-up truck. Wind conditions reported 10NM away were from 130 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot had a total flight time of 103 hours and had previous problems controlling the airplane in crosswind conditions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N931VN
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7740084
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Web Associate Electronic
- Registered owner
- Web Associate Electronic
- Destination
- AIZ · Lake Ozark, MO
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 3SZ · Smartt, runway 18, 3,800 × 75 ft, macadam
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 103 total · 44 in this make and model · 49 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- STL, 10 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.