Bush Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Augusta, Georgia 30906
Tuesady, April 22, 1997 20:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing with known gusty crosswinds and windshear at his destination airport. While on final approach, the tower controller advised him of thunderstorm activity and gusty wind conditions, and that the wind was 260 degrees at 56 knots. The pilot started his flare at about 10 to 15 feet, and encountered a strong gusty wind. The airplane turned to the right. The pilot lost directional control, the airplane landed hard. The airplane then skidded off the runway, and all landing gear collapsed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control during the landing flare, and collision with the terrain. The adverse weather with nearby thunderstorm activity, crosswind, and gusts was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/22/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City AUGUSTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30906
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUSH FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AGS
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 145
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID AGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 145
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 26
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 48
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 136
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1321H
NTSB Number MIA97LA145
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7780152
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROYAL SONS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15950 FAIRCHILD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City CLEARWATER
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34622
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EDWIN A. DEAS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2657 RIDGE LANE
Operator City PALM HARBOR
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 34684
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PIE
Departure City ST PETERSBURG
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AGS
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 8001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --