# NTSB CHI99LA124: Piper PA-28-180, N32194, North Platte, NE, April 8, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 1999, 17:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: North Platte, NE - Coordinates: 41.130134, -100.769424 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1301&lon=-100.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46066/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty, high, wind conditions, and the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis In a written statement, the pilot stated, 'the final approach was as expected, however at the moment of flare, a strong gust of wind from 320 degrees moved us 80 feet off the runway.' The pilot reported no preexisting anomalies with the airplane, and none were found during a postaccident examination. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 340 degrees at 29 knots, gusting to 39 knots, with a peak wind of 320 degrees at 47 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 1999, at 1755 central daylight time (cdt), a Piper PA-28-180, N32194, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing, on Runway 35 (4,436 feet by 100 feet dry/asphalt), at the North Platte Regional Airport, near North Platte, Nebraska. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or his one passenger. The flight originated from the Sheridan County Airport, Sheridan, Wyoming at 1330. In a written statement, the pilot stated that, "the final approach was as expected, however at the moment of flare, a strong gust of wind from 320 degrees moved us 80 feet off the runway." Post accident examination showed damage to the ribs and skin of the right wing, the outboard four feet of the left wing was bent upward approximately 12", the engine mount tubing was distorted, and the firewall was bent. The pilot reported no pre-existing anomalies and none were found during post accident examination. Weather reports for a reporting station, KLBF, located at the accident airport showed winds as follows; At 1356 cdt, 4 hours prior to the accident, wind 350 degrees at 21 knots gusting to 26 knots with a peak wind of 280 degrees at 33 knots. At 1456 cdt, 3 hours prior to the accident, wind 330 degrees at 24 knots gusting to 31 knots with a peak wind of 360 degrees at 33 knots. At 1556 cdt, 2 hours prior to the accident, wind 340 degrees at 29 knots gusting to 39 knots with a peak wind of 330 degrees at 39 knots. At 1656 cdt, 1 hours prior to the accident, wind 330 degrees at 33 knots gusting to 45 knots with a peak wind of 340 degrees at 45 knots. At 1756 cdt, at the time of the accident, wind 340 degrees at 29 knots gusting to 39 knots with a peak wind of 320 degrees at 47 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32194](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32194), registered now, S/N 28-7505036, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7505036 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Safeguard Investment Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SHR, SHERIDAN, WY - Destination: LBF - Airport: LBF, North Platte Regional, runway 35, 4,436 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 168 total, 75 in this make and model, 37 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 29 knots, gusting 39 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LBF ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990408003229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990408003229A), Apr 8, 1999: Piper PA28180, North Platte, NE, Substantial damage. Acft encountered a strong gust of wind on landing, and it went off the rwy and struck the left wingtip. (-23)on April 8, 1999, approximately 1755 CDT, Piper… ## Other investigations on N32194 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB FTW02LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA075), Jan 28, 2002: Piper PA-28 (N32194), Berryville, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the sunglare. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.