Piper PA-24-250 N699WL

Summary

On 9 August 2001 at about 03:00 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N699WL was involved in an accident near Thompson Falls, Montana, United States. 2 people were 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

9 August 2001 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Thompson Falls, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Thompson Falls (THM)

Coordinates

47.5595, -115.4408

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N699WL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Great Falls → Thompson Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01LA148

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation in gusting wind conditions during the landing flare. A tree was a factor.

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 flare for touch down, a sudden gust of wind lifted the left wing. The pilot applied full power in an attempt to stabilize the upset. The stall horn sounded and the aircraft drifted to the right side of the runway. The pilot was successful in stabilizing the aircraft when the left wing collided with a pine tree. The airplane touched down, collapsing the nose and left main landing gear. The airplane spun around about 180 degrees before coming to rest. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.