PIPER PA-23-250
Clayton, NY — May 11, 2011
Event Information
| Date | May 11, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA11CA294 |
| Event ID | 20110511X41907 |
| Location | Clayton, NY |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 44.18694, -76.07639 |
| Airport | Ritchie Airfield |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-23-250 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to obtain a proper touchdown point while landing with a gusting tailwind.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane was about to touchdown when a gust of wind caused the left wing to drop toward the ground. The wing impacted the ground, and skidded on the turf runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest and was engulfed in flames which resulted in substantial damage. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident site, the airplane landed approximately 150 feet prior to the turf runway threshold. Winds recorded at an airport 12 miles to the south, about the time of the accident, were from 030 degrees at 10 knots with gusts of 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane at the time of the accident.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.