Piper PA-28-140 accident near Woodworth, Louisiana, July 22, 2006
On July 22, 2006 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N9952W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodworth, Louisiana (Woodworth 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
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree. Contributing factors were the sudden wind shift and the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2006 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Woodworth, Louisiana · Woodworth Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N9952W · no longer on the register · serial 28-23498
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 67-hour private pilot lost directional control of the single-engine airplane while attempting a go-around from a 3,100-foot long by 75-foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot reported that while in the landing flare for runway 01, while "on speed" with full flaps deployed, a strong gust of wind raised the right wing, and "the airplane's nose pitched-up close to a stalling attitude." The pilot reported that he leveled the wings, lowered the nose, and applied engine power in an attempt to go-around. However, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and remained airborne for about 600-yards prior to colliding with a tree. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions, but recommended a higher landing speed, and the use of less flaps to compensate for windy conditions. The nearest weather reporting station, located 13 miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 260 at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 67 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39 Leesville LA at 7:20 pm
- Destination: 1R4 Woodworth LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from AEX, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.