Piper PA-11 N4589M

Summary

On 10 September 2012 at about 19:00 local time, a Piper PA-11 registered N4589M, operated by Morris Jerry W, was involved in an accident near Ft. Morgan, Colorado, 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

10 September 2012 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ft. Morgan, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Ft Morgan Municipal (KFMM)

Coordinates

40.3339, -103.8042

Aircraft

Piper PA-11

Registration

N4589M

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Morris Jerry W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ft. Morgan → Ft. Morgan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

CEN12CA641

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of control during landing after encountering an unexpected wind gust.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While practicing landings, the sport pilot performed a three-point, full-flap landing on the runway. During the landing roll, an unexpected wind gust knocked the tail wheel out of its detent and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The airplane ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane before the accident. The pilot and the flight instructor reported the wind was about 3 to 4 knots down the runway, with dust devils crossing the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.