What happened
The aircraft executed a landing that was characterized by excessive descent rate, resulting in a hard impact with the runway surface. Following this initial contact, the airplane bounced back into the air before settling again. During the subsequent roll-out, the pilot lost directional control, causing the aircraft to swerve laterally off the paved surface. The airplane continued its uncontrolled path until it impacted natural terrain adjacent to the runway.
At the time of the incident, meteorological reports indicated significant wind conditions. The wind was blowing at a speed of 14 knots with gusts reaching up to 22 knots. These crosswind or tailwind components likely contributed to the difficulty in maintaining control during the critical landing phase.
The investigation
An examination of the pilot's qualifications and experience provided context for the accident sequence. The pilot holding primary responsibility for the flight (PIC) had received their certification on October 23, 1991. At the time of the accident, this individual possessed a total of only 15 hours of flight time specifically in the Piper PA-24 aircraft type.
Seated in the right-hand seat was a passenger who held the appropriate rating for this specific aircraft model. This individual had accumulated 544 total flight hours and 362 hours as pilot-in-command within the Piper PA-24. Despite possessing significantly more experience than the PIC, this rated passenger did not intervene or take any corrective action during the accident sequence.
Findings
The primary factors leading to the accident included the hard landing technique employed by the pilot and the subsequent loss of directional control that led to the runway excursion. The environmental factor of gusty winds (14-22 knots) presented additional challenges. Crucially, the failure of the rated passenger in the right seat to assume control or assist during the critical moments of the accident sequence was a notable finding.