DFW07CA213

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-180 · Tunica, MS · August 15, 2007

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 15, 2007, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
Place
Tunica, MS
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7906WPiper PA-28-180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Jackson, Mississippi
FAA report
20070815023149A
Case key
66826

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

The pilot's failure to compensate for the existing wind conditions during a crosswind landing. A factor was the crosswind.

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 - on ground/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Compensation for wind conditions - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll

Analysis

The 300-hour private pilot reported on a written statement to the FAA, that he entered the traffic pattern on the downwind for Runway 35. He added that the downwind entry, base leg, and final approach were all normal. The pilot further stated that "upon crossing into the blacktop of the runway, the airplane climbed rapidly 25-30 feet, like a thermal effect from the high temperatures off of the runway." He added that a prevailing crosswind from the west "drifted the airplane slightly off-center." The pilot added that he applied full power, closed the carburetor heat, and prepared for either a go-around or a soft landing further down the runway. The airplane then "lost lift and touched down in a crab due to the crosswind." The airplane touched down on the nose landing gear, skidded sideways, when the nose gear touched down the aircraft skidded sideways and :nosed over slightly" resulting in a prop strike and wing contact on the runway. The right wing sustained structural damaged. The winds were reported from 270 degrees at 10 knots.

Factual narrative

The 300-hour private pilot reported on a written statement to the FAA, that he entered the traffic pattern on the downwind for Runway 35. He added that the downwind entry, base leg, and final approach were all normal. The pilot further stated that "upon crossing into the blacktop of the runway, the airplane climbed rapidly 25-30 feet, like a thermal effect from the high temperatures off of the runway." He added that a prevailing crosswind from the west "drifted the airplane slightly off-center." The pilot added that he applied full power, closed the carburetor heat, and prepared for either a go-around or a soft landing further down the runway. The airplane then "lost lift and touched down in a crab due to the crosswind." The airplane touched down on the nose landing gear, skidded sideways, when the nose gear touched down the aircraft skidded sideways and :nosed over slightly" resulting in a prop strike and wing contact on the runway. The right wing sustained structural damaged. The winds were reported from 270 degrees at 10 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N7906W
Reported as
Piper PA-28-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-1936
Airframe hours
3,124
Engine
Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2006 · 163 hours before
Departed
M01 · Memphis, TN
Destination
KUTA · Tunica, MS

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
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
300 total · 300 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
106 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

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

Other investigations on N7906W · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.