Piper PA-22-108 accident near Bowling Green, Missouri, November 14, 2008
On November 14, 2008 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5432Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Bowling Green, Missouri (Bowling Green Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control during the landing sequence. A contributing factor was the sudden gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2008 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Missouri · Bowling Green Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5432Z · registry record · serial 22-9206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing a touch and go landing in a tailwheel equipped airplane on a turf runway, the newly tailwheel endorsed pilot encountered a sudden crosswind. The airplane's nose turned left as the airplane "bounced" back into the air. The pilot initiated a go-around and added right rudder. The airplane exited the runway and headed for an airfield wind indicator, so the pilot reduced engine power and maneuvered the airplane away from the obstruction. The airplane settled into a plowed field, nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot was able to egress the airplane without assistance. Damage was sustained to the airplane's firewall, both wings and struts.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,981.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H19 Bowling Green MO
- Destination: H19 Bowling Green MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 10:05 pm from PPQ, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.