Piper PA-16 N6834K

Summary

On 29 July 2012 at about 17:30 local time, a Piper PA-16 registered N6834K, operated by Willis Clifton L, was involved in an accident near Keokuk, Iowa, United States. 3 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

29 July 2012 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Keokuk, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Keokuk Municipal Airport (KEOK)

Coordinates

40.4597, -91.4286

Aircraft

Piper PA-16

Registration

N6834K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Willis Clifton L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshkosh → Keokuk

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA503

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll in a variable crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the airplane approached the destination airport, the pilot monitored the airport’s automated weather reporting station. The pilot stated that the airport’s reported wind changed from 160 degrees at 7 knots, to 200 degrees at 9 knots, and then to 180 degrees at 8 knots as they got closer to the airport. The pilot added that he initially planned to land on runway 26, but, upon circling the airport, he noted that the windsock favored runway 8. During the landing roll on runway 8, the airplane’s right wing lifted. The pilot stated that he was unable to lower the wing, and the airplane veered right and continued off the side of the runway. The airplane came rest in the grass with substantial damage to the fuselage just forward of the empennage. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.