- Date
- April 21, 1996, 19:00 local (Apr 22, 1996, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aitkin, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4883SPiper PA-32-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 3, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960421008109A
- Case key
- 10232
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 improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure (or inability) to adequately compensation for wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the gusty crosswind condition and the snowbank.
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
The pilot landed the airplane on runway 16 in winds that he reported were from the west at 28 to 30 mph. During the landing, the airplane veered to the right into a snowbank and sustained substantial damage. About 45 minutes before the accident, the wind was reported to be from 280 degrees at 8 knots with gusts to 18 knots.
Factual narrative
On April 21, 1996, at 1900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32- 260, N4883S, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on landing at the Aitkin, Minnesota Municipal Airport. The airplane exited the runway to the right and the right wing impacted a snow drift on the right edge of the runway. The pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed O'Neill, Nebraska about 1600.
The pilot reported that winds were 28 to 30 mph from the west. He was landing on runway 16 (3,398' x 75' dry/asphalt). He said that the wind picked up the right wing and although he was able to level the wings he was unable to keep the airplane from departing to the runway to the right.
Weather observations taken at the accident airport at 1815 (45 minutes prior to the accident), indicated the wind to be 280 degrees at 8 knots, with gusts to 18 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4883S
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7100007
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Exports, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 13, 1996 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- ONL · O'Neill, NE
- Destination
- AIT
- Airport
- AIT · Aitkin Municipal, runway 16, 3,398 × 75 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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 746 total · 41 in this make and model · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AIT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.