Piper PA28R-180 N4980J

Summary

On 29 May 1989 at about 23:15 local time, a Piper PA28R-180 registered N4980J, operated by Pickett, Ronald E., was involved in an accident near Frankfort, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 1989 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Frankfort, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Frankfort (C18)

Coordinates

41.4902, -87.8291

Aircraft

Piper PA28R-180

Registration

N4980J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pickett, Ronald E.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cape Girardeau → Frankfort

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI89LA096

2 people had minor injuries.

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN CROSS/TAILWIND CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND, THE WIND SHIFTED TO A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND AND STARTED TO GUST. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, TOWARDS SOME PARKED AIRPLANES AND HANGARS, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB OUT AND CLEAR THE HANGARS, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A HANGAR, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED INTO THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.