Piper PA-28-140 N6980W

Summary

On 25 June 2011 at about 21:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N6980W was involved in an accident near New Philadelphia, Ohio, 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

25 June 2011 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

New Philadelphia, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Harry Clever Field Airport (KPHD)

Coordinates

40.4703, -81.4200

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N6980W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Zanesville → New Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA426

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's incorrect identification of the wind direction before landing, which resulted in a tailwind landing and subsequent runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before entering the traffic pattern, he observed that the airport's windsock was limp and that, based on that information, he decided land to the southeast. He stated that, while on final approach, he encountered a strong wind gust that resulted in the airplane touching down past the touchdown zone. He noted that the airplane was too far down the runway to safely abort the landing, so he elected to steer the airplane into a field located off the right side of the runway, and the left wing collided with an electrical service box. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. A review of historical wind data indicated that the prevailing wind had been from the north-northwest between 7 and 11 knots during the previous three hours. The pilot's description of the airplane floating past the desired touchdown zone, which resulted in insufficient runway for the landing roll, was consistent with an attempted tailwind landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.