CARLSBAD, NM, USA
N7256P
Piper PA-24-180
At the completion of a cross-country flight, while on a left downwind for landing on runway 03, the pilot encountered a wind shift and the aircraft started to descend. Despite the application of go-around procedures, the aircraft continued descending. The pilot executed a forced landing in a open area, but the aircraft was damaged. The wind was reported to be from 340 degrees at 8 knots, but the pilot said the wind was gusting from the north to 15 knots.
On April 28, 1996, at 1630 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N7256P, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Carlsbad, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured and two passengers received minor injuries. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred and no flight plan was filed for this cross country flight which originated in Amarillo, Texas, at 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he elected to perform a go-around due to changing winds and could not keep the aircraft airborne due to adverse wind. He landed in flat sandy terrain next to the airport. The pilot said the distance from first encountering the unexpected descent to the point of impact was approximately 1.2 miles and that at onset of the descent, he was approximately 800 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot of another aircraft, which was ahead of the accident aircraft, reported the winds to be 360 degrees at 10 knots.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the sudden windshift and/or windshear.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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