Piper PA28 N9238W

Summary

On 4 June 2017 at about 20:20 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N9238W was involved in an accident near Big Bear, California, 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

4 June 2017 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2639, -116.8536

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N9238W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Angeles → Big Bear

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA354

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.

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 landing flare, the airplane encountered a "sudden massive gust of wind" that pitched the nose up. He pushed the yoke forward, but the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane "slammed" onto the runway. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered right off the runway, and it then came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 4 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.