N8197W

On June 12, 2000, about 0720 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, N8197W, was substantially damaged while landing at the Fulton County Airport, Wauseon, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he executed the NDB approach to Runway 27, flew over the centerline of the runway and made a 180-degree turn to land on Runway 09. During the turn, the pilot overshot the extended centerline of Runway 09 and attempted to realign the airplane to the runway centerline. While maneuvering back to the runway centerline, the airplane stalled just above the runway and impacted the ground. The airplane touched down on all three landing gear, slid sideways and came to rest in a water drainage ditch. The pilot estimated that the cloud bases at the time of the accident were about 650 feet above the ground and 1 mile of visibility with heavy rain.

After the accident, the pilot stated to an Ohio State Police officer that his airspeed was "about 80 knots but less because stalled about then."

When interviewed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that he did not recall hearing the stall warning horn or what his airspeed was while maneuvering.

At 0700, the reported weather at an airport located 15 miles to the west of the accident site was: winds from 100 degrees at 8 knots; 1 3/4 miles of visibility with light rain and mist; overcast clouds at 300 feet.