Piper PA-28-161 N8133H

Summary

On 6 April 1999 at about 22:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N8133H was involved in an accident near Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 April 1999 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Zelienople, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Zelienople (8G7)

Coordinates

40.7793, -80.1402

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N8133H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD99LA037

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning to practice crosswind landings in wind that exceeded the airplane's demonstrated capability and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor in the accident was the high wind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said he checked the weather and the local winds before departing to practice some 'crosswind flying.' The pilot stated that when the airplane climbed above the trees at the departure end of runway 35, 'I realized I had made a mistake...' The pilot returned for landing on runway 35. The airplane touched down, departed the right side of the runway, and struck a clump of small trees. Winds reported at the time of the accident were from 270 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 40 knots. The demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane, and placarded on the dash panel, was 17 knots. The pilot reported he was unaware of the limitation prior to the accident. The pilot reported 260 hours of total flight experience, 36 hours of which was in make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.