# NTSB MIA90LA172: Piper PA24-260, N8756P, Destin, FL, August 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 1990, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Destin, FL
- Coordinates: 30.400232, -86.489028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4002&lon=-86.4890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32693
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA172
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32693/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA172

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO OBTAIN ACCURATE WIND INFORMATION RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE BEING BLOWN OFF THE RUNWAY ON LANDING WHEN A GUST WHICH EXCEEDED THE CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE AIRPLANE WAS ENCOUNTERED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll
  - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

PILOT RECEIVED RUNWAY INFORMATION FROM UNICOM BUT DID NOT RECEIVE WIND INFORMATION. HE NOTICED ON APPROACH THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS POINTING PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY BUT NOT FULLY EXTENDED. ON LANDING THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTER A WIND GUST FROM THE RIGHT WHICH EXCEEDED THE CROSSWIND CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRPLANE. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. ALL THREE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN SAND WAS ENCOUNTERED NEXT TO THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8756P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8756P), registered now, S/N 24-4206, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4206
- Airframe hours: 1916
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard A. Bedard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 1989, 71 hours before
- Departed: SPX, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 81J, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, runway 14, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 240 total, 75 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VPS, 5 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900823036379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900823036379A), Aug 23, 1990: Piper PA24260, Destin, FL, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing in a gusty crosswind that exceeded aircrafts crosswind component.

## Other investigations on N8756P (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 SEA73DYG30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73DYG30), May 12, 1973: Piper PA-24 (N8756P), Othello, WA, substantial damage

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.

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