Port Meadville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335
Friday, May 9, 2014 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he deviated to a nearby airport after discovering that the winds at his intended destination were too strong. While on short final the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left and the pilot initiated a go around. The wind gust then went away and the pilot elected to abort the go around and land. After touchdown the pilot reduced power to idle and applied the brakes. Once the airplane slowed to 40 mph it was hit by a "perpendicular gust", the left wing lifted and the airplane began a mild swerve to the left side of the runway. The pilot applied full aileron deflection and full right rudder inputs; however, he was unable to maintain directional control. The pilot then applied full power to initiate another go around. During the transition from ground roll to takeoff the right gear collapsed and the right wingtip and propeller impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go around in gusty wind conditions which resulted in a collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/2014
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Meadville
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16335
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413735N
Event Location Longitude 0801253W
Event Location Airport PORT MEADVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GKJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1399
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KGKJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1399
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32843
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROCC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2014 1:45PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4305A
NTSB Number ERA14CA243
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-3656
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 Apr 28 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 4958
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name IRLAND GARY R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MARTVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 131113102
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Zackary Joe Trudell
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Camarillo
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93010
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 KFZY
Departure City Fulton
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KFKL
Destination City Franklin
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2014 1:45PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 5001
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --