CHI93LA361

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-34-200 · Fenton, MO · September 15, 1993

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 14, 1993, 19:30 local (Sep 15, 1993, 00:30 UTC)
Place
Fenton, MO
Injuries
1 minor, 3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N3084TPiper PA-34-200
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 7, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930914034379A
Case key
9313

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

Failure of the pilot to maintain lateral (roll) and directional control of the airplane, when one engine hesitated to respond to application of power during an attempted go-around. Factors related to the accident were: the crosswind and the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions.

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in command
Go-around - initiatedPilot in command
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - aircraft parked/standing

Analysis

The pilot stated the airplane was about 50 feet above the ground (on final approach), when a left crosswind '. . . Mis- aligned the airplane with the (runway 36) centerline.' He increased power in an attempt to realign, but the airplane began to roll to the right. The pilot added full power to go around, and '. . . The left wing rose rapidly to a near vertical attitude.' The airplane veered off the right side of the runway, crossed a taxiway, and impacted a row of parked airplanes. It struck four parked airplanes before coming to a stop. A small ground fire ensued. The pilot stated the right engine 'did not respond to applied power for go around.' A post-accident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction of the airframe or engine(s). Winds at st louis, Missouri (15 miles north-northeast of the accident site) were from 310 degrees at 10 to 14 knots.

Factual narrative

On September 14, 1993, at 1930 hours central daylight time, a Piper PA34, N3084T, veered off the right side of the runway while landing at Weiss Airport, Fenton, Missouri. The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with four parked aircraft and caught fire. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries, one passenger reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and an IFR flight plan was cancelled prior to the accident. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Des Moines, Iowa about 1800 hours.

The pilot stated he overflew the destination airport to determine wind conditions and the appropriate runway for landing. He reported winds at St. Louis, Missouri (15 miles north northeast of the accident site) were out of 310 degrees, at 10 to 14 knots. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for Runway 36. He described the approach to the runway: "As a hill immediately precedes the threshold of Rwy 36, power was greatly reduced and loss of altitude was used to maintain airspeed."

The pilot stated the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway threshold when a slight crosswind "...misaligned the airplane with the center line." He reported when he increased power slightly to realign, and the airplane began to roll to the right. The pilot applied full power to go around, and "...the left wing rose rapidly to a near vertical attitude." The airplane banked to the right, away from the runway and across the taxiway, then collided with four parked airplanes before it came to rest on a 140 degree heading. The left wing fuel tank ruptured during the impact sequence; the resultant ground fire was extinguished promptly.

The pilot stated the: "Right engine did not respond to applied power For go around." Postaccident examination of the airframe and both engines revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. A postaccident engine run up was performed on the right engine. The engine started promptly, and operated normally at all power settings. FAA Inspector statements are appended.

Aircraft

Registration
N3084T
Reported as
Piper PA-34-200
Category
Airplane
Serial number
34-7250339
Airframe hours
5,395
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-C1E6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Skyline Aviation
Registered owner
S. I. Incorporated
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
Departed
DSM · Des Moines, IA
Destination
3WE
Airport
3WE · Weiss, runway 36, 3,010 × 48 ft, asphalt

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
51
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,188 total · 5 in this make and model · 2,188 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
320° at 10 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,700 ft overcast
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.