Pilot Debrief

Piper PA28 near McKinney, TX — 2019-05-23

Final reportCEN19LA150
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Date
2019-05-23
Location
McKinney, TX, USA
Airport
T31
Aircraft
Piper PA28
Registration
N1568J
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Go-around

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control during an attempted go-around in gusting crosswind conditions.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger conducted a local flight before returning to the airport for landing on runway 17. The pilot reported that the approach was smooth and normal, but as the airplane was about to touch down, it was "pushed down hard to the surface and quickly sucked back up." She applied engine power for a go-around, and as the airplane gained altitude, a gust of wind occurred; the airplane subsequently impacted a storage facility and a home just west of the airport. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Review of weather reports from a nearby airport about the time of the accident revealed wind from 140° at 11 knots gusting to 23 knots. Another weather station recorded wind from 140° at 16 knots gusting to 29 knots. Based on the available information, the accident was consistent with the pilot's loss of control during an attempted go-around in gusting crosswind conditions.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing earlier due to wind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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