- Date
- April 22, 1997, 20:50 local (Apr 23, 1997, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Augusta, GA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1321HPiper PA-32R-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970422006329A
- Case key
- 38268
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
flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during the landing flare, and collision with the terrain. The adverse weather with nearby thunderstorm activity, crosswind, and gusts was a related factor.
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.
Analysis
The pilot was landing with known gusty crosswinds and windshear at his destination airport. While on final approach, the tower controller advised him of thunderstorm activity and gusty wind conditions, and that the wind was 260 degrees at 56 knots. The pilot started his flare at about 10 to 15 feet, and encountered a strong gusty wind. The airplane turned to the right. The pilot lost directional control, the airplane landed hard. The airplane then skidded off the runway, and all landing gear collapsed.
Factual narrative
On April 22, 1997, about 2050 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N1321H, registered to Royal Sons Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight crashed on landing at Bush Field, Augusta, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, and three passengers reported no injuries. The flight originated from St. Petersburg, Florida, about 2 hours 10 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated upon arrival in the Augusta area, that he observed thunderstorm activity in the vicinity. He was cleared to land on runway 35. While on final approach the tower operator advised him of the thunderstorms and gusty wind conditions. He elected to continue with the VFR approach and landing. He started his landing flare/touchdown at about 10 to 15 feet, and encountered a strong gusty wind. The airplane turned to the right 90 degrees. He lost directional control, the airplane landed hard on the main gear perpendicular to the runway, skidded off the runway, and collapsed all landing gear.
Review of radio communications between N1321H and Augusta Air Traffic Control, local control (LC) revealed at 2047:32 N1321H was advised of windshear Advisories at the airport which was acknowledged by the pilot at 2047:39. The pilot was advised at 2048:44 by LC that the wind was 260 degrees at 56 knots.
Review of weather information obtained from Bush Field, Augusta, Georgia, for the time of the accident, revealed no recorded record of turbulence, or downdrafts, and the winds were 280-degrees, at 26 knots, gusting to 48 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1321H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-7780152
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Edwin A. Deas
- Registered owner
- Royal Sons Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PIE · St Petersburg, FL
- Destination
- AGS
- Airport
- AGS · Bush Field, runway 35, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 31
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 176 total · 26 in this make and model · 115 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 280° at 26 knots, gusting 48
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AGS
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 N1321H · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.