N323DT

On September 19, 1999, at 1615 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N323DT, was substantially damaged during landing roll at Garfield County Regional Airport, Rifle, Colorado. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight that originated from Aspen, Colorado, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, weather conditions along his route of flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, had deteriorated, and he wanted to land to let the weather pass. He said that the airport's unicom reported winds at 340 degrees at 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots. A witness said that the pilot made one attempt to land on runway 26, then performed a go-around. The witness said weather conditions were deteriorating, and he observed the airplane make a second attempt to land. The pilot said that he landed on the left side of the runway, and a "gust seemed to have kicked the aircraft further to the left [and] struck a runway sign." The left main landing gear separated from the airplane, the engine mount was bent, and the engine firewall was wrinkled.