- Date
- December 22, 2016, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Shreveport, LA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9541WPiper PA28
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20161222019379A
- Case key
- 94541
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 inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during the go-around, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the low-wing airplane reported that, during the approach in variable crosswind conditions, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the right for which he corrected and that he then continued the approach. He further reported that, about 10 ft above the runway, the airplane encountered another stronger wind gust from the right and he decided to go around. During the go-around, the airplane encountered yet another wind gust from the right; the right wing rose ,and the left wing dropped and contacted the ground. Subsequently, the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest on the left side of the runway. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The local reported weather about the time of the accident included wind from 060° at 6 knots. The pilot landed on runway 32.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the low wing airplane reported that during the approach in variable crosswind conditions, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right for which he corrected and continued the approach. He further reported, that about 10 feet above the runway the airplane encountered another stronger gust of wind from the right and he decided to go around. During the go-around, the airplane encountered yet another gust of wind from the right; the right wing rose and the left wing dropped and contacted the ground. Subsequently, the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest on the left side of the runway. The pilot reported there were no pre accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of local weather at approximately the time of the accident reported; wind direction 060 degrees true, at 6 knots. The pilot landed on runway 32.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9541W
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (140)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-22971
- Built
- 1967
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- DTN · Shreveport, LA
- Destination
- DTN · Shreveport, LA
- Airport
- DTN · Shreveport Downtown, runway 32, 5,018 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 66
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 26, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 228 total · 178 in this make and model · 139 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- KDTN
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 428 KB in all.
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 N9541W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.