| Crash location | 24.560278°N, 81.765833°W |
| Nearest city | Key West, FL
24.555702°N, 81.782591°W 1.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N326XT |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 26 Mar 2006 |
| Aircraft type | Piper PA32-301 |
| Additional details: | None |
On March 26, 2006, about 1120 eastern standard time, a Piper PA32-301XTC, registered to and operated by a private individual, ran off the runway and collapsed the nose landing gear during landing at Key West International Airport, Key West, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Venice Municipal Airport, Venice, Florida, to Key West International Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1000, from Venice Municipal Airport.
The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport and with the wind from the north at "...10 or more knots. It was also very gusty..." he was cleared to land on runway 09. As the main landing gear contacted the runway the nose of the airplane "lifted unexpectedly and moved to my left. The aircraft then veered sharply to the left and off the side of the runway." The nose landing gear collapsed after it contacted a gravel area just off the runway. He further stated that he should have put in "...better wind corrections and got the aircraft pointed straight down the runway."
A surface observation weather report taken at the Key West International Airport on the day of the accident at 1131, or approximately 11 minutes after the accident indicates the wind was from 350 degrees at 15 knots. No wind gusts were reported during that observation.
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a crosswind, resulting in collapse of the nose landing gear.