# NTSB MIA96LA147: Piper PA-28-140, N6351W, Barbour Island, GA, May 31, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 31, 1996, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Barbour Island, GA
- Location: 31.5813° N, 81.2287° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Barbour Island, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5813&lon=-81.2287&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 22, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38024
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38024/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA147

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for gusty wind conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The flight encountered gusty winds on final approach, drifted left, and struck trees on the left side of the runway.

## Factual narrative

On May 31, 1996, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6351W, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91, personal, local flight, crashed in the vicinity of Barbour Island, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured.

According to the pilot while on approach for a landing to a private airstrip, he encountered gusty winds, lost control of the airplane, and impacted trees to the left of the runway.

The pilot stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he approached the landing site at "70 mph, 5mph high for this phase, at the threshold," and that the altitude was about "15 feet" above ground level, "or a little high."  The pilot further stated,  "I was hit by a gust that turned me to the right."  He stated that he made a correction, "and was immediately hit by a much stronger gust," that turned the airplane to the left "sharply."   He applied full right aileron and full power.  He stated that at this point, "...I was facing a live oak tree on the left side of the runway; I could not clear the top, and went into it."

No discrepancies were found with either the airframe or the engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6351W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6351W-1997-04-07), registration cancelled 1997-04-07, S/N 2820409 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2820409
- Airframe hours: 5060
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Timothy Keith-Lucas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1995, 88 hours before
- Departed: UOS, SEWANEE, TN
- Airport: NONE, Barbour Island, runway 4, 2,600 × 120 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 796 total, 785 in this make and model, 751 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F

## 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 19960531012329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960531012329A), May 31, 1996: Piper PA28140, Barber Island, GA, Destroyed. Encountered a strong gust of wind on approach, lost control, struck a tree near the runway.

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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