NTSB SEA91LA204 — 1991-08-09 · SUNRIVER, Oregon, United States

Current FAA registration · N8444S

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-181
Year of manufacture: 1982 · 9 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19940428
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB91AA

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8444S Piper PA-28-181 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Factual narrative

UPON ARRIVAL IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT THE PILOT IN COMMAND COMMENCED A VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18. DURING HER APPROACH SHE ASCERTAINED A STRONG WESTERLY CROSSWIND. WITNESSES REPORTED GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXECUTE A SUCCESSFUL GO AROUND BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE 200 FEET EAST OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_SEA91LA204.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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