VINE GROVE, KY, USA
N3256R
PIPER PA-28R-180
AFTER A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ON FINAL TO THE PRIVATE GRASS STRIP WHERE THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED. HE HELD LEFT CONTROL CORRECTION ON FINAL FOR A LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AT GROUND LEVEL THE WIND 'QUIT.' THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE LEFT MAIN GEAR OFF OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO DIRECT THE AIRPLANE TO THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED ABOUT 90 FEET, THE LEFT GEAR WENT INTO A DITCH, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A WOODEN POST. THE AIRPLANE THEN DID A LEFT GROUND LOOP. WINDS REPORTED 11 MILES FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE AT 060 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS.
On September 1, 1994, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, owned and piloted by Alfred Barr, was substantially damaged during landing at the Vine Grove Airport, Vine Grove, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he was using left control and correction on final, to compensate for a quartering left head wind, while landing on runway 11. He further stated: "...At ground level the wind quit. I touched down heading slightly left of the runway center. I tried to steer right with rudder with no response, probably because the grass runway was wet with dew. The aircraft continued until the left main gear went into a ditch, and left wing end hit a short post..." In the FAA Inspector's statement, he stated that his investigation revealed the airplane touched down on the left side of the runway with the left half of the airplane off of the runway. The airplane travelled approximately thirty yards when it struck a wooden post with the left wing. The airplane continued in a sharp left turn causing the left and right main landing gear to collapse. Winds at an airport, 6 miles north of Vine Grove, were reported to be from 060 degrees an 8 knots.
The pilot's (1) inadequate compensation for wind conditions and (2) failure to align with the runway during landing touch down.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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