On October 26, 1993, a Piper PA-28-180 (registration N6566J) was involved in an aviation accident near Somerset, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing and the aircraft nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a landing on Runway 24, gusting winds caused the aircraft to lift and touch down off the runway side. The nose gear subsequently collapsed, resulting in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest in an inverted position.
What happened
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on Runway 24, the aircraft encountered a gust of wind. This sudden wind condition caused the airplane to lift off the ground briefly before descending again. The aircraft touched down off the right side of the runway rather than within the paved surface.
Following the out-of-routine touchdown, the nose gear collapsed under the stress. The collapse caused the airplane to nose over, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position on the ground. The pilot noted that the wind was gusting to 22 knots at the time of the incident.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing and the aircraft nosing over.
What happened in the 26 Oct 1993 Piper PA-28-180 accident near Somerset, PA?
During a landing on Runway 24, gusting winds caused the aircraft to lift and touch down off the runway side. The nose gear subsequently collapsed, resulting in the airplane nosing over and coming to rest in an inverted position.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 26 Oct 1993 involved a Piper PA-28-180, registration N6566J, at Somerset, PA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the nose gear collapsing and the aircraft nosing over.
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