Piper PA-22-135 N3737A

Summary

On 4 July 2007 at about 16:16 local time, a Piper PA-22-135 registered N3737A was involved in an accident near Johnson, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 July 2007 at 16:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Johnson, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-135

Registration

N3737A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tecumseh → Falls City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07LA191

1 person died.

The failure of the left wing's lift strut, which resulted in the separation of the left wing, and the subsequent airplane control not being possible. Factors were the overdue annual inspection, the overdue compliance with an Airworthiness Directive on the lift strut, the corroded lift strut, and not following required procedures for ferry permits by the owner/pilot.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The externally braced high wing airplane impacted terrain following an in-flight separation of the left wing while maneuvering during a ferry flight. A post impact ground fire that engulfed the airplane in flames occurred 10 -15 seconds after impact according to a witness. A witness who was an acquaintance to the pilot said that the pilot "was in the process of purchasing the plane." The witness reported that the owner advised the pilot that the airplane had not flown in about four years and that the engine had not been started in about six months. The pilot flew the airplane for about 30 minutes and parked the airplane in a hangar. The witness reported that the pilot was aware that the airplane did not have a current annual inspection. The witness said that the pilot came back on the day of the accident to fly the airplane to another airport for an annual inspection. The witness saw the airplane depart in the direction of the pilot's home. Another witness saw that "a portion of the planes wing broke away from the plane." Airworthiness Directive (AD) 99-01-05 was accomplished about four years prior. That AD contained a section for repetitive 12 calendar month inspections of the wing's lift struts. The AD was issued to "prevent in-flight separation of the wing from the airplane caused by corroded wing lift struts or cracked wing lift strut forks, which could result in loss of control of the airplane." An on-scene examination of the wreckage revealed the left wing's forward strut separated about eight inches above its fork bolt. The inside of that strut was corroded. No other pre-impact anomalies were detected. No airplane logbook entry was found for the required special flight permit to ferry the airplane for its annual inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.