SEA87LA076

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Alkali Lake, OR · April 4, 1987

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: April 4, 1987, 13:25 local (21:25 UTC)
Place: Alkali Lake, OR
Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Approach
Aircraft: N1770JPiper PA-28-140
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report July 5, 1988
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19870404008339A
Case key: 40608

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Loss of control - in flightApproach - vfr pattern - final approach

Weather condition - unfavorable windFactor

Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

In flight collision with terrain/waterApproach - vfr pattern - final approach

Nose gear collapsedDescent - uncontrolled

Landing gear,nose gear assembly - overloadCause

Landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure,total

Nose overLanding - roll

Analysis

During a windy crosswind approach the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft struck the ground short of the runway breaking off the nose gear and then nosing over inverted.

Aircraft

Registration: N1770J
Reported as: Piper PA-28-140
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 28-24192
Airframe hours: 3,613
Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Glen Fairchild
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · July 17, 1986 · 50 hours before
Departed: MFR · Medford, OR
Destination: OR03 · Alkali Lake, OR
Flight plan: VFR
Airport: OR03 · Alkali State, runway 35, 6,150 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 60
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 256 total · 256 in this make and model · 21 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility: 50 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19870404008339APiper PA28140 · Alkali Lake, ORThe aircraft impacted the ground during an attempted go around in gusty winds. The pilot failed to retract flaps.Apr 4, 1987 · N1770J · Substantial damage