Crash location | 30.732778°N, 86.150833°W |
Nearest city | Defuniak Springs, FL
30.785200°N, 86.189100°W 4.3 miles away |
Tail number | N7215W |
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Accident date | 26 Aug 2015 |
Aircraft type | Piper Pa 28-180 |
Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that during the landing roll it felt as if "air got under the wing." The airplane drifted to the left and departed the runway surface into the grass about 40 miles per hour. During the runway excursion, the pilot reported that he crossed over a parallel taxiway, the nose gear impacted a storm water ditch and collapsed. The firewall sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, the reported wind from the airport automated surface observing system about the time of the accident was 350 degrees true at 9 knots, which resulted in a 9 knot crosswind component.
The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion, and collision with a ditch.