Piper PA-32R-300 N9430K

Summary

On 12 November 2006 at about 16:25 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N9430K was involved in an accident near Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 November 2006 at 16:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (JGG)

Coordinates

37.2392, -76.7158

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-300

Registration

N9430K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Williamsburg → St. Petersburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07LA027

1 person died.

The pilot's improper decision to depart into adverse weather conditions. Contributing was the gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, the pilot lifted the nose wheel of the airplane off the runway early in order to "lessen ground drag on the nose." As the airplane reached 100 feet, and at an airspeed near rotation speed, the airplane encountered a wind gust of approximately "negative 30 knots." The airplane was then "hit from [the] top by wind," and subsequently impacted trees off the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated that if he had the chance to do the accident flight again, he would not have attempted the departure due to the winds. Witnesses described that as the airplane lifted off from the runway, it was moving "abnormally slow" and was "not climbing very quickly." It then climbed a "short distance" into the air before being "pushed down." It then gained altitude, but did not climb above the height of the trees beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane flew in a wings level attitude, straight into the tree line, and moments later erupted in flames. The weather reported at the time of the accident consisted of gusting winds and rain. Examination of radar information revealed level 3 convective activity just west of the airport around the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.