Piper PA-28-151 N5447F

Summary

On 30 September 2001 at about 17:02 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N5447F was involved in an accident near Melbourne, Florida, United States. 3 people were 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

30 September 2001 at 17:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Melbourne, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Melbourne International (MLB)

Coordinates

28.0803, -80.5996

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N5447F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vero Beach → Melbourne

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

MIA01LA234

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing rollout while landing in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a ground swerve, and the aircraft exiting the runway and incurring substantial damage when it collided with a ditch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the landing rollout a gust of wind blew him off to the right. The pilot further stated that he attempted to go around by applying power, but the aircraft exited onto the grass, hit a ditch, rolled into the Palmetto shrubs, and collided with a 4-inch diameter pine, incurring substantial damage. According to the pilot, prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft or any of its systems.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.