- Date
- July 22, 2006, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Woodworth, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9952WPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20060722017299A
- Case key
- 64180
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 clearance from a tree. Contributing factors were the sudden wind shift and the gusty 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.
Analysis
The 67-hour private pilot lost directional control of the single-engine airplane while attempting a go-around from a 3,100-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot reported that while in the landing flare for runway 01, while "on speed" with full flaps deployed, a strong gust of wind raised the right wing, and "the airplane's nose pitched-up close to a stalling attitude." The pilot reported that he leveled the wings, lowered the nose, and applied engine power in an attempt to go-around. However, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and remained airborne for about 600-yards prior to colliding with a tree. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions, but recommended a higher landing speed, and the use of less flaps to compensate for windy conditions. The nearest weather reporting station, located 13 miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 260 at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Factual narrative
The 67-hour private pilot lost directional control of the single-engine airplane while attempting a go-around from a 3,100-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot reported that while in the landing flare for runway 01, while "on speed" with full flaps deployed, a strong gust of wind raised the right wing, and "the airplane's nose pitched-up close to a stalling attitude." The pilot reported that he leveled the wings, lowered the nose, and applied engine power in an attempt to go-around. However, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and remained airborne for about 600-yards prior to colliding with a tree. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions, but recommended a higher landing speed, and the use of less flaps to compensate for windy conditions. The nearest weather reporting station, located 13 miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 260 at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9952W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-23498
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2005
- Departed
- L39 · Leesville, LA
- Destination
- 1R4 · Woodworth, LA
- Airport
- 1R4 · Woodworth Airport, runway 01, 3,100 × 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
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 67 total · 64 in this make and model · 15 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- AEX, 13 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.