CHI97LA125

Factual narrative

On May 10, 1997, at 0720 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N280TC, experienced a nose gear collapse following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 32 (6,400' x 75') at the Dickinson Municipal Airport, Dickinson, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo training flight was not operating on the flight plan. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight originated from the Dickinson Municipal Airport, at 0645 cdt. The student pilot reported that prior to the accident, he made 5 touch and go landings on runway 25 with the wind from 250 degrees at 10 knots. He reported he then called the Unicom for a weather check and was informed that the winds had changed so he set up to land on runway 32. The pilot reported that during the landing flare, the wind changed back to 250 degrees and the left wing of the airplane was lifted. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway into the grass where the nose gear collapsed and the right wing contacted the ground. The student pilot was practicing touch and go landings on runway 25. According to the pilot, he called Unicom for a weather check and was told the winds had changed so he decided to land on runway 32. He reported that during the landing, the winds changed back to 250 degrees. The left wing of the airplane rose and the airplane veered off the side of the runway. The airplane traveled into the grass where the nose gear collapsed and the right win contacted the terrain. Local winds were reported as 240 degrees at 15 knots, 13 minutes after the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12