Piper PA-20 N7631K

Summary

On 29 April 2004 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N7631K was involved in an accident near North Bend, Washington, 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

29 April 2004 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

North Bend, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Bandera State (4W0)

Coordinates

47.3833, -122.5386

Aircraft

Piper PA-20

Registration

N7631K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Renton → North Bend

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA075

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. A rough landing surface and tailwind gusts were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while in flight, he heard a "flapping sound" and since he was near an airstrip, he decided to land to check the aircraft. The pilot stated that when he was abeam the windsock, which is located near mid-field, he noted that the sock was limp. Since he was already on the downwind for runway 26, he continued in the pattern for landing. The pilot reported that the aircraft was a little high on final approach, so he slipped the aircraft to attain the correct altitude. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot felt a tailwind gust which pushed the aircraft. The pilot continued the landing and the aircraft touched down about one-third of the way down the airstrip. The aircraft rolled for a short distance then became airborne again, subsequently touching down about three-quarters of the way down the airstrip. During the landing roll, the pilot stated that, "...a combination of rough field, tailwind, and braking led to the tail coming up past the point of no return, and on her back we went..." The aircraft then nosed over and came to rest inverted. The wind gusts were reported by the pilot as from the east, with gusts of 8 to 12 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.