Piper PA-28R-200 N56273

Summary

On 18 March 2012 at about 22:38 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N56273, operated by Dutch Wings, LLC., was involved in an accident near Arcola, Texas, 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

18 March 2012 at 22:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Arcola, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Houston Southwest Airport (KAXH)

Coordinates

29.5061, -95.4769

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N56273

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dutch Wings, LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Houston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA189

Nobody was injured.

The pilot did not maintain adequate crosswind correction during the landing flare and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot-receiving-instruction was attempting to land the airplane in a right quartering crosswind, which was gusting to 15 knots. The pilot reported that an application of full left rudder along with right aileron input was required to maintain alignment with the runway centerline. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust and drifted off the left side of the runway. He stated that his flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and attempted a go-around, but the airplane was unable to climb and subsequently landed in a ditch. The flight instructor reported that he assumed control of the airplane as it drifted off the runway, and the airplane had insufficient airspeed to establish a climb. He further noted that the pilot did not relinquish his left rudder input, and, because of this, in combination with the left-turning tendency experienced at takeoff power, he was unable to reestablish directional control before the airplane impacted a ditch. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.