N1654B

On June 5, 2006, at 1615 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N1654B, was substantially damaged during landing at Du Bois-Jefferson County Airport (DUJ), Du Bois, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries and the pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at the Zelienople Municipal Airport (8G7), Zelienople, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot-rated passenger, as the pilot flared for landing, a gust of wind lifted the airplane at "an extremely high angle to the runway, and then quit." The airplane "stalled," nosed over, and impacted the ground. A postcrash fire ensued; however, both occupants were able to egress prior to the airplane being consumed.

The pilot reported the same sequence of events, and additionally reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

A witness who was also a commercial airline pilot, observed the airplane flying at an altitude of approximately 10 feet over the approach end of runway 07. The airplane appeared to be performing a "normal landing" until the airplane "was lifted in a vertical motion" to an altitude of approximately 30 feet. The airplane then nosed over and impacted the runway.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preimpact mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The propeller displayed rotational damage, and flight control continuity was confirmed to the flight controls.

According to the pilot, at the time of the accident, he had accumulated 528 hours of total flight experience.

The weather recorded at DUJ, at 1556, included variable winds at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 10,000 feet, temperature 75 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches Mercury.