Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
was the failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for wind conditions, and maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident were the gusting crosswinds.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On Monday, October 26, 1993, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N6566J, owned and piloted by Mr. David W. Sadler, of Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, nosed over while landing at Somerset Municipal Airport, Somerset, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for flight operating under 14 CFR 91.
According to NTSB form 6120.1/2. The Pilot stated:
...When I reported final for [runway] 24 Somerset, I received an airport advisory,...the winds were 15kts gusting to 22kts at 180 [degrees]. I approached the runway in a sideslip and touched down near the 1000 foot marker. As I was in the rollout, A gust of wind picked the nose of the airplane up, then the entire airplane went airborne...I was well below my stall speed and unable to regain airspeed for sustained flight....
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors report stated, "...when it [the aircraft] came back down, the aircraft was off the right side of the runway. Upon impact, the nose gear broke, the propeller struck the ground along with the right wing tip. In approximately 30 feet the nose of the aircraft struck the ground causing the aircraft to tip over on it's back...."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC94LA019