Gallia Meigs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gallipolis, Ohio 45631
Sunday, December 8, 1996 14:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that about 30 miles from the airport, the airplane encountered snow and then approximately '...10 miles out encountered freezing rain/sleet/snow.' According to the pilot, '...airplane was flying poorly because of ice but still controllable. At one point need[ed] substantial right rudder to maintain level flight. Decided to approach high since I know the stall speed would be higher with the ice. Normal approach in this airplane is 70 MPH over the numbers. I crossed the numbers [around] 82 MPH.' The pilot stated that while on final approach for runway 23 the winds shifted from 230 degrees to 320 degrees '...with hard buffeting gusts over the hills to my right. As soon as the airplane went into ground effect it stopped flying - came down hard on the left main - I applied some power to regain control - the plane came down hard just off the runway in soft soil....' Subsequently, the airplane came to a stop after collided with a parked airplane and a hangar.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a collision with a hangar and parked aircraft. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's encounter with rain, sleet, snow, and icing conditions, and airframe icing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/8/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GALLIPOLIS
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45631
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GALLIA MEIGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GAS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 567
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1917 GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 216
Weather Observation Facility ID HTS
Elevation of weather observation facility 1043
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation GMT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1557
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1525
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7632L
NTSB Number NYC97LA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Lake
Aircraft Model LA-4
Aircraft Series Identifier LA-4
Aircraft Serial Number 405
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 20 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 1941
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES H. SROCK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2431 PONTIAC ROAD
Aircraft Owner City AUBURN HILLS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48326
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 7D2
Departure City TROY
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3998
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --