Piper PA28R-200 N55820

Summary

On 26 March 2000 at about 18:15 local time, a Piper PA28R-200 registered N55820 was involved in an accident near Lehighton, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 March 2000 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Lehighton, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Jake Arner Memorial (22N)

Coordinates

40.8301, -75.7096

Aircraft

Piper PA28R-200

Registration

N55820

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC00LA098

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. A factor in this accident was the gusty crosswind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was landing on Runway 26, a 3,000 foot-long, 50 foot-wide, asphalt runway. A witness observed the airplane touchdown on the runway, still crabbed approximately 30 degrees into the wind. The airplane bounced about 10 feet into the air and began to drift to the south side of the runway. The witness heard full power being applied to the engine, and stated the engine seemed to respond normally. The airplane was observed to climb slightly, roll to the left and descend into trees inverted. The airplane came to rest inverted in a wooded area, about 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway, and 625 feet to left of the runway centerline. Portions of the wreckage, which included the main cabin were consumed by a post crash fire. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact failures of the airframe or engine. Winds reported at airports about 20 miles, east south-east, and 31 miles, south south-west of the accident site, were from 290 degrees at 16 knots with 21 knots gusts, and from 300 degrees at 22 knots with 30 knot gusts, respectively.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.