FENTON, MO, USA
N3084T
PIPER PA-34-200
THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND (ON FINAL APPROACH), WHEN A LEFT CROSSWIND '. . . MIS- ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE (RUNWAY 36) CENTERLINE.' HE INCREASED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REALIGN, BUT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER TO GO AROUND, AND '. . . THE LEFT WING ROSE RAPIDLY TO A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE.' THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, CROSSED A TAXIWAY, AND IMPACTED A ROW OF PARKED AIRPLANES. IT STRUCK FOUR PARKED AIRPLANES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. A SMALL GROUND FIRE ENSUED. THE PILOT STATED THE RIGHT ENGINE 'DID NOT RESPOND TO APPLIED POWER FOR GO AROUND.' A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE(S). WINDS AT ST LOUIS, MISSOURI (15 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE) WERE FROM 310 DEGREES AT 10 TO 14 KNOTS.
On September 14, 1993, at 1930 hours central daylight time, a Piper PA34, N3084T, veered off the right side of the runway while landing at Weiss Airport, Fenton, Missouri. The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with four parked aircraft and caught fire. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries, one passenger reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and an IFR flight plan was cancelled prior to the accident. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Des Moines, Iowa about 1800 hours. The pilot stated he overflew the destination airport to determine wind conditions and the appropriate runway for landing. He reported winds at St. Louis, Missouri (15 miles north northeast of the accident site) were out of 310 degrees, at 10 to 14 knots. The pilot entered the traffic pattern for Runway 36. He described the approach to the runway: "As a hill immediately precedes the threshold of Rwy 36, power was greatly reduced and loss of altitude was used to maintain airspeed." The pilot stated the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway threshold when a slight crosswind "...misaligned the airplane with the center line." He reported when he increased power slightly to realign, and the airplane began to roll to the right. The pilot applied full power to go around, and "...the left wing rose rapidly to a near vertical attitude." The airplane banked to the right, away from the runway and across the taxiway, then collided with four parked airplanes before it came to rest on a 140 degree heading. The left wing fuel tank ruptured during the impact sequence; the resultant ground fire was extinguished promptly. The pilot stated the: "Right engine did not respond to applied power For go around." Postaccident examination of the airframe and both engines revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. A postaccident engine run up was performed on the right engine. The engine started promptly, and operated normally at all power settings. FAA Inspector statements are appended.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN LATERAL (ROLL) AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHEN ONE ENGINE HESITATED TO RESPOND TO APPLICATION OF POWER DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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