N7708PPiper PA-24 · 1961

On September 7, 2015, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N7708P, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion after landing at Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Stratford, Connecticut. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Peoria International Airport (PIA), Peoria, Illinois at 0753.According to the pilot, as he approached the New Jersey area, he checked the BDR weather and noted that the surface wind was from 230 degrees at 10 knots. Since runway 24 was closed, he selected runway 29 for landing. On final approach, the "crosswind became evident." After touchdown, the airplane "veered sharply to the left." His attempt to remain on the runway was unsuccessful. Steering and braking attempts "did not work" and there was no noticeable reduction in speed. After the airplane exited the runway surface, it spun "sharply to the left." The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane came to a stop, and the pilot secured the engine and exited the cockpit.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The fuselage, empennage, and right wing sustained structural damage from impact forces. The right wing spar was bent about 4 feet from the wing tip. The right main landing gear linkage pierced the upper wing surface. The empennage was bent at the aft bulkhead.

The aircraft brakes, rudder and nose wheel steering systems were examined by the FAA inspector; no discrepancies were found.

At the time of the accident, the pilot had logged about 700 hours total time, including 414 hours in the PA-24.

In response to the question of how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot responded that he would have diverted to alternate airport with lower or no crosswind component, stopped mid-way through the trip to wait for the wind to improve, and obtained more crosswind landing practice.