Crash location | 31.126389°N, 92.500833°W |
Nearest city | Woodworth, LA
31.146576°N, 92.497360°W 1.4 miles away |
Tail number | N9952W |
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Accident date | 22 Jul 2006 |
Aircraft type | Piper PA-28-140 |
Additional details: | None |
The 67-hour private pilot lost directional control of the single-engine airplane while attempting a go-around from a 3,100-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot reported that while in the landing flare for runway 01, while "on speed" with full flaps deployed, a strong gust of wind raised the right wing, and "the airplane's nose pitched-up close to a stalling attitude." The pilot reported that he leveled the wings, lowered the nose, and applied engine power in an attempt to go-around. However, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and remained airborne for about 600-yards prior to colliding with a tree. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions, but recommended a higher landing speed, and the use of less flaps to compensate for windy conditions. The nearest weather reporting station, located 13 miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 260 at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree. Contributing factors were the sudden wind shift and the gusty wind conditions.