# NTSB SEA96LA151: Piper PA-24-250, N5352P, Stanley, ID, July 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1996, 13:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Stanley, ID - Coordinates: 44.259277, -114.97055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2593&lon=-114.9706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42414 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42414/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA151 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve. The crosswind was a related factor. ## Analysis While on an approach to land at a mountain airstrip, the pilot encountered crosswinds. He stated that substantial left rudder was required to counteract a crosswind during the flare. After touchdown, the aircraft went to the left. The pilot attempted to recover with right rudder, but the airplane continued to skid left on the turf runway. Since the airplane did not have toe brakes installed, the pilot was unable to use differential braking. The airplane continued to the left, hit a ditch and stopped, collapsing the landing gear and causing substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1996, approximately 1310 mountain daylight time, N5352P, a Piper PA-24-250, sustained substantial damage during landing at Smiley Creek airstrip, near Stanley, Idaho. The private pilot and his two passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the occurrence. The flight had departed from Ogden, Utah, approximately 1130, and was to have been operated in accordance with 14 CFR 91. There was no report of the ELT actuating. The pilot encountered a crosswind while on landing approach to runway 14 of the 4900 foot turf airstrip. He stated that as he was flaring, it took substantial left rudder to counteract the crosswind. Upon touchdown the airplane went left. He applied right rudder and the airplane "continued to skid left on the (turf) runway. I applied the hand brake (it had no toe brakes, hence no differential steering) and kept the aircraft as straight as possible, so [as] not to cartwheel. I never did get traction, continued to veer left, hit the ditch, and then stopped in the barbed wire fence." The pilot added that the wind seemed to be consistent in both direction and velocity on final, however when he was flaring he felt it both gusted and swirled. He stated that there was no chance to abort the landing at that time. The left main landing gear collapsed, nose gear separated, and the right main strut penetrated the right wing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5352P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5352P-2011-06-13), registration cancelled 2011-06-13, S/N 24-399 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-399 - Airframe hours: 4333 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Allan G. Flatau - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1996, 14 hours before - Departed: OGD, OGDEN, UT - Destination: U87 - Airport: U87, Smiley Creek, runway 14, 4,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 212 total, 141 in this make and model, 182 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960710016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960710016509A), Jul 10, 1996: Piper PA24250, Galena, ID, Substantial damage. Veered off runway landing on grass strip. Light crosswind. Hit ditch and fence. Collapsed gear. Strut thru wing. ## Other investigations on N5352P (2) 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 CHI66F0467](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0467-174328), Nov 13, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N5352P), Eau Claire, WI, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X2946](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2946), Jul 20, 1964: Piper PA24 (N5352P), Eagle River, WI, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.