Summary
On November 16, 1995, a Piper PA-28-180 (N6551J) was involved in an incident near Heber Springs, AR. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during transition from landing roll to taxi. A factor relating to the accident was: a soft area in the grass runway.
On November 16, 1995, approximately 1315 central standard time, a Piper PA-28, N6551J, registered to a private owner, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, was substantially damaged during landing at a private grass airstrip, near Heber Springs, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot-in-command was not injured. The flight originated from Searcy, Arkansas about 45 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported to a FAA inspector that, during landing roll, he "lost control of the aircraft when he ran into soft terrain." In the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that, as he was "taxiing off [the] strip to park", he "crossed [a] ditch" and the nose gear collapsed.
This incident is documented in NTSB report FTW96LA049. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6551J.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during transition from landing roll to taxi. A factor relating to the accident was: a soft area in the grass runway.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On November 16, 1995, approximately 1315 central standard time, a Piper PA-28, N6551J, registered to a private owner, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, was substantially damaged during landing at a private grass airstrip, near Heber Springs, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot-in-command was not injured. The flight originated from Searcy, Arkansas about 45 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported to a FAA inspector that, during landing roll, he "lost control of the aircraft when he ran into soft terrain." In the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that, as he was "taxiing off [the] strip to park", he "crossed [a] ditch" and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest inverted, adjacent to the runway. Both wings and the fire wall were structurally damaged.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW96LA049