Piper PA-28-140 accident near Pottsboro, TX
On May 22, 1994, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pottsboro, TX. 2 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 22, 1994
- Place
- Pottsboro, TX
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.771°N, 96.669°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01295
NTSB summary
On May 21, 1994, at 2015 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N9687W, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Pottsboro, Texas. The private pilot was not injured, while his two passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot reported manually positioning the airplane against the Grandpappy Point airstrip perimeter fence to take advantage of all the available runway for the takeoff roll. He added that during the takeoff ground run, the airplane did not attain sufficient airspeed to lift off, so he aborted the takeoff, and elected to intentionally veer to the left to avoid colliding with the trees at the departure end of the strip. He further reported that the right wing was sheared off after impacting a tree, and the airplane came to rest on its side. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the 1,500 foot sod airstrip had only 1,100 feet available for landing and takeoff. He stated that the pilot used one notch of flaps (10 degrees) instead of the two notches (25 degrees) recommended by the airplane manufacturer for a short field takeoff. According to the aircraft operator's manual, 1,700 feet was required to clear a 50 foot obstacle at sea level. Density altitude was estimated at 2,000 feet. The FAA inspector further stated that evidence was found at the airstrip showing that the pilot elected to abort the takeoff at a point 1,397 feet from the point the brakes were released during the takeoff roll. Both passengers submitted detailed statements. They both stated that th
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DETERMINE, PRIOR TO LANDING AT THE AIRPORT, THAT THE RUNWAY LENGTH WOULD BE INADEQUATE FOR A SAFE TAKEOFF, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT'S OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.
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Browse: Texas · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
