N9654W

On May 29, 1999, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N9654W, was substantially damaged while landing at the Barber Airport (2D1), Alliance, Ohio. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Valley Vista Airport, Brainbridge, Ohio, about 1400. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The airplane was on approach to runway 27, a 2,088 foot long, 130 foot wide, turf runway.

The airport owner witnessed the accident from the north side of the runway. In telephone interview, he stated the airplane was about 100 to 125 feet from the approach end of the runway, and about 15 to 20 feet above the ground, when it rolled to the right approximately 25 or 30 degrees. The airplane was starting to recover, when it pitched down and impacted the ground with it's nose gear, and right main landing gear. The airplane came to rest on the threshold of the runway.

In a written statement, the pilot said the airplane was 10 to 15 feet above the end of the runway, when a gust of wind raised the airplane's left wing more than 45 degrees. He further stated, "...I cranked in left aileron and almost had the wings level,[when the airplane] stalled out on me."

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine.

Winds reported at an airport about 16 miles west of the accident site, at 1551, were from 270 degrees, at 7 knots, with variability between 230, and 300 degrees. The airport manager described the weather conditions at the airport as "breezy," and estimated that the winds around the time of the accident were from 280 to 290 degrees, at 11 or 12 knots.