Piper PA-24-260 N8866P

Summary

On 18 October 1995 at about 17:45 local time, a Piper PA-24-260 registered N8866P, operated by Nixon, Thomas E., was involved in an accident near Wakeeney, Kansas, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 October 1995 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wakeeney, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Trego Wakeeney (7KS1)

Coordinates

39.0197, -99.8703

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-260

Registration

N8866P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Nixon, Thomas E.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boulder → Huthinson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI96LA012

2 people had minor injuries.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO REACH THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING AN UNPLANNED EN ROUTE STOP AT TREGO WAKEENEY AIRPORT. THE PILOT RECEIVED NO AIRPORT ADVISORIES AND USED THE WINDS ALOFT TO SET UP HIS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 35. THE PILOT DID NOT SEE THE WIND SOCK UNTIL TURNING TO BASE LEG. THE WIND SOCK INDICATED THE OPPOSITE WIND DIRECTION, AND THE PILOT CONTINUED THE APPROACH FOR LANDING. AN EYEWITNESS NOTICED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A 40 DEGREE ANGLE OF BANK TURNING TO FINAL. THE EYEWITNESS ALSO STATED THE PILOT FAILED TO OVERFLY THE AIRPORT TO VERIFY RUNWAY AND WIND CONDITIONS. THE WIND DIRECTION WAS REPORTED OUT OF 150 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS OF 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN AIRSPEED AND LIFT OCCURRED WHILE TURNING FINAL FOR RUNWAY 35. HE SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER, BUT COULD NOT CONTROL HIS RATE OF DESCENT BEFORE CONTACTING THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 500 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ABOUT 300 FEET, CROSSED A ROAD, AND HIT A THREE FOOT HIGH EMBANKMENT (DIRT BANK).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.