N280TC

On May 10, 1997, at 0720 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N280TC, experienced a nose gear collapse following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 32 (6,400' x 75') at the Dickinson Municipal Airport, Dickinson, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo training flight was not operating on the flight plan. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight originated from the Dickinson Municipal Airport, at 0645 cdt.

The student pilot reported that prior to the accident, he made 5 touch and go landings on runway 25 with the wind from 250 degrees at 10 knots. He reported he then called the Unicom for a weather check and was informed that the winds had changed so he set up to land on runway 32. The pilot reported that during the landing flare, the wind changed back to 250 degrees and the left wing of the airplane was lifted. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway into the grass where the nose gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the ground.