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ATL97LA041

1997-02-12 · WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport INT

Current FAA registration · N15013

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28R-200
Year of manufacture
1972 · 25 years old at event
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19720821
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0CCC6

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional cntrol of the airplane, which resulted in a ground swerve and collapse of the right main landing gear. The crosswind was a related factor.

Factual narrative

On February 12, 1997, at 1545 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200, N15013, collided with the ground and collapsed the right main landing gear during an attempted landing on runway 04 at the Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured. The flight departed Winston Salem at 1540. The flight had been cleared for a touch and go landing when shortly after the touch phase of the procedure the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he experienced some difficulty with the brakes, and the airplane veered off the runway into a grassy area. During the uncontrolled movement of the airplane, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing spar was damaged. A review of the weather data disclosed that, the prevailing winds were 320 degrees at seven knots when the pilot attempted the landing. An examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem with the brake system. The flight had been cleared for a touch-and-go landing on runway 4, when shortly after touchdown, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, he experienced some difficulty with the brakes, and the airplane veered off the runway into a grassy area. During the uncontrolled movement of the airplane, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing spar was damaged. A review of the weather data disclosed that the prevailing wind was from 320 degrees at 7 knots. An examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem with the brake system. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1997_ATL97LA041.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.