IAD99LA037

The pilot said he checked the weather and the local winds before departing to practice some 'crosswind flying.' The pilot stated that when the airplane climbed above the trees at the departure end of runway 35, 'I realized I had made a mistake...' The pilot returned for landing on runway 35. The airplane touched down, departed the right side of the runway, and struck a clump of small trees. Winds reported at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 40 knots. The demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane, and placarded on the dash panel, was 17 knots. The pilot reported he was unaware of the limitation prior to the accident. The pilot reported 260 hours of total flight experience, 36 hours of which was in make and model.

On April 6, 1999, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8133H, was substantially damaged during collision with trees after landing at the Zelienople Municipal Airport (8G7), Zelienople, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that originated at 8G7, approximately 1835. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to practice some "crosswind flying." He said he listened to the Butler County Airport (BTP) Automated Weather Observation Service (AWOS) by telephone approximately 1630. The pilot said he checked the anemometer at the flying club for wind speed and direction at 8G7, before he began a preflight inspection of the airplane. He said, "The winds were coming out of 300 degrees at 4 to 8 knots gusting to about 17 [knots]."

The pilot stated that prior to departure, he discussed flying in the windy conditions with another pilot at the club. After watching the club member depart, he decided to fly. He said, "I figured I could do it."

The pilot said that when the airplane climbed above the trees at the departure end of runway 35, "I realized I had made a mistake..."

In a written statement, the pilot reported:

"...landing on runway 35 with the wind out of the west. The plane touched down on the runway just beyond the numbers at 70 knots. Before the nose wheel touched down, a strong gust pushed the aircraft off of the right side of the runway onto a flat grassy section. The left wheel struck one of the runway lights which were off to the side of the runway. I added power and reduced flaps from full to no flaps in an attempt to add more control and clear the approaching thicket. The left wing struck a small clump of saplings and was torn from the plane...The airplane was running normally at the time of the incident."

The airplane subsequently came to rest in a clump of small trees and bushes.

Butler County Airport was 10 miles east of 8G7. At 1555, the winds reported at BTP were from 230 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 22 knots. At 1755, the winds were reported from 240 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 26 knots.

At the Beaver County Airport, 10 miles west of 8G7, the winds reported 5 minutes after the accident were from 270 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 40 knots.

According to the pilot's operating handbook and a placard on the dash panel of N8133H, the demonstrated maximum crosswind component for the Piper PA-28-161 was 17 knots. When the pilot was asked if he was aware of this limitation he said, "No, not until after the FAA pointed it out to me."

The pilot reported 260 hours of total flight experience; 35 hours of which were in the PA-28.