Piper PA-24 N180BC

Summary

On 7 April 2000 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA-24 registered N180BC was involved in an accident near Herlong, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 April 2000 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Herlong, California, United States

Nearest airport

Herlong (Q73)

Coordinates

40.1401, -120.1600

Aircraft

Piper PA-24

Registration

N180BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Creswell → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX00LA147

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing rollout, while at about 50 mph, a strong gust of wind hit him from the left. The airplane veered to the right off the runway, then continued through a metal fence and into a field. There was damage to the left wing, aileron, and landing gear. The pilot reported that the winds at the airport at the time of the accident were from the southwest at 25 to 35 knots, gusting to 35 knots and higher. According to the manufacturer, there is no published maximum crosswind component for the PA-24.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.