Saturday, December 06, 2014

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, N7422W: Accident occurred November 30, 2014 in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama

http://registry.faa.gov/N7422W

NTSB Identification: ERA15CA064
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, November 30, 2014 in Athens, AL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/22/2015
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28-180, registration: N7422W
Injuries: 2 Serious.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The airplane was on final approach to land on runway 18, a 2,500-foot-long, turf runway, at a private airstrip. A witness stated that winds were gusting from the south and when the airplane was on short final it began to sink. The airplane's right main landing gear tire struck the top wire of power lines that were located across a road from the airstrip and were perpendicular to the runway. The airplane pitched down and impacted on the runway, about 120 feet to the south, which resulted in substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage. The pilot reported he added engine power when he realized that the airplane was descending and that the engine hesitated. He further stated that he did not experience any malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Winds reported at an airport that was located about 11 miles south-southeast of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 190 degrees at 21 knots, gusting 26 knots.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude while landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with power lines while on final approach.

Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office: FAA Birmingham FSDO-09

Chris Boone, wife of Athens physician Max Boone, was released Friday afternoon from Huntsville Hospital where she and her husband have been following a Nov. 30 plane crash.

The Boones were flown to Huntsville Hospital after their Piper Cherokee 180 crashed just short of a private grass airstrip off New Cut Road.

Earlier in the week, Chris had been listed in good condition in the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit before being moved to a regular room later in the week.

Dr. Max Boone remained at the hospital, but was still listed in good condition in a regular room on Friday, the spokeswoman said.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration have filed an initial report, ruling the crash an accident. According to witnesses, Boone was coming in from the north to land on the strip when he hit at least one power line and crashed nose-first near the strip. The owner of the airstrip, who declined to be identified, told investigators he believed gusty winds played a factor in the crash. He told The News Courier that Boone kept the plane at the hangar on his property.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a statement saying it will not be sending its own investigators to the scene, but will use information complied by the FAA.


Source: http://www.enewscourier.com


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