N8858D

On October 28, 2003, at 1030 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-160, N8858D, piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI), sustained substantial damage when it impacted a hangar and subsequently a building during the takeoff portion of a touch and go from runway 03 (2,902 feet by 40 feet, asphalt), at Lamar Municipal Airport (LLU), Lamar, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The CFI reported minor injuries. The student pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight departed LLU at 1000.

According to the CFI's written statement, he was demonstrating a "touch and go" in a crosswind to the student pilot. The CFI reported that after landing, he retracted the flaps, applied full left aileron and full engine power. The CFI stated he was unable to accelerate the airplane past 60 miles per hour or climb above an altitude of 10 to 12 feet. The CFI reported that a strong gust of wind caused the airplane to drift into the path of the buildings. The CFI stated he could not return to the runway heading because of the possibility of striking a wingtip due to the low altitude, and he "could not pull up for fear of stalling and striking the ground." The airplane impacted the roof of a private hangar and an off-airport storage building.

A weather observation station, located at Joplin Regional Airport, 22 nautical miles southwest of LLU, recorded the weather conditions as:

At 0853: Wind 310 degrees true at 5 knots; 10 statute mile visibility with light rain; scattered ceiling of 4,400 feet (ft) above ground level (agl), broken ceiling of 6,000 ft agl, and overcast ceiling of 6,000 ft agl; temperature 13 degrees Celsius; dew point of 11 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.79 inches-of-mercury.

At 0953: Wind 340 degrees true at 11 knots; 10 statute mile visibility; clear; temperature 16 degrees Celsius; dew point of 9 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.80 inches-of-mercury.

At 1053: Wind 350 degrees true at 11 knots; 10 statute mile visibility; clear; temperature 17 degrees Celsius; dew point of 7 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.81 inches-of-mercury.