Piper PA-32-260 N3936W

Summary

On 19 May 2005 at about 14:00 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3936W, operated by William C. Downin, was involved in an accident near Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. 2 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

19 May 2005 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Run Airport (YIP)

Coordinates

42.2381, -83.5303

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N3936W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

William C. Downin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Belleville → Belleville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05CA118

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to undetermined reasons. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind condition and the taxiway sign which was contacted. THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED OCTOBER 12, 2006!!

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with a taxiway sign during a landing roll. The pilot reported that after a local flight they entered a left downwind for runway 23L with the tower reporting the winds as being from 150 at 12 knots. The pilot reported that he established a left crab on final approach to stay centered with the runway. He stated that as he flared, he applied right rudder and left aileron. The pilot stated he touched down on the centerline, but the airplane began drifting to the right as the nose wheel touched down. He continued to report, "I again determined I had full left aileron into the left crosswind and applied more left rudder to steer the aircraft back to the centerline." The pilot stated he applied as much left rudder as he could; however, the airplane continued to turn right until it exited the runway and struck a taxiway sign. Airport personnel reported the airplane veered off the right side of runway 23L where it contacted the Taxiway Fox sign. The sign was knocked off of its mount and it came to rest 16 feet from the mount. The airplane came to rest 200 feet off the side of the runway. Inspection of the airplane's brakes, rudder, and steering systems buy the Federal Aviation Administration failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction. A mechanic who inspected the airplane reported excessive play in the nose wheel steering system. THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED OCTOBER 12, 2006!!

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.