Piper PA-28-140 accident near Paris, Kentucky, January 5, 2023
On January 5, 2023 at about 4:04 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA-28-140, registered N6111W, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Paris, Kentucky (Wild Blue airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control after encountering changing wind conditions during the initial climb, which resulted in descent and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 2023 · about 4:04 pm local time
- Place
- Paris, Kentucky · Wild Blue · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1964 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6111W · no longer on the register · serial 28-20126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and two passengers were departing from a 2,800-ft-long turf runway and reported that prior to initiating the takeoff the wind was light and variable. During the initial climb after takeoff, and once the airplane had cleared a ridge and trees that ran parallel to the runway, the pilot reported that there was a “sudden windshear that caused a reduction in lift.” The pilot reduced the airplane’s pitch attitude in an attempt to regain lift, but the airplane continued to descend. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation at an airport 9 miles away noted wind at 10 knots, with no gusts or other convective activity described.
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
- Other weather encounter during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 640 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 3,177 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,825 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2022; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 751 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3KY9 Waddy KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from 27K, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K27K 052115Z AUTO 23010KT 10SM OVC050 08/00 A2993 RMK AO1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 15, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Kentucky Police Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.