Piper PA-28-180 N7971W

Summary

On 14 September 2012 at about 20:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N7971W was involved in an accident near French Valley, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 2012 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

French Valley, California, United States

Nearest airport

French Valley (F70)

Coordinates

33.5742, -117.1283

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N7971W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → French Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA419

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s loss of directional control during a go-around following a sudden change in wind direction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane drifted across the runway centerline during the final approach, and the pilot applied corrective control input. A gusting crosswind and high temperatures were present, and, as such, he continued the approach with the flaps retracted. He corrected for the wind by lowering the left wing, and applying right rudder control. During the flare, the wind direction shifted to a quartering tailwind, and the airplane veered to the right. Unable to keep the airplane over the runway, the pilot applied full engine power and initiated a go-around. The engine responded, but the airplane did not climb as expected, and its main landing gear made contact with the vertical stabilizer of an airplane on the taxiway. The airplane subsequently settled and landed in the adjacent parking apron, where it collided with five parked airplanes. The accident airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged, and all five parked airplanes also sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.