Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Wichita Falls, TX
On August 26, 1995, a Piper PA-32R-300 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wichita Falls, TX. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 26, 1995
- Place
- Wichita Falls, TX
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.350°N, 97.331°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04227
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 26, 1995, at 1425 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 32R-300, N9296K, collided with a light pole during takeoff from Kickapoo Downtown Airpark near Wichita Falls, Texas. The private pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft was owned and operated by Eagle Has Landed, Inc., of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was originating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot reported that he departed on runway 17 and was at an altitude of "approximately 100 feet" when "the front luggage door flew open, stood straight up and vibrated vigorously." The pilot elected to continue the takeoff with the intention of returning to land. He reported that he "could gain a little altitude when straight and level, but upon banking to left I would lose altitude." According to witnesses at the airport, the airplane was "approximately half-way down the runway," at an altitude of "no more than 10 feet," when they observed that the forward baggage compartment door was open. One witness reported the pilot "throttled back," then applied power, then "throttled back again." Another witness stated that the pilot "added and reduced power several times until he was too far down the runway to abort the takeoff." The witness further stated that the airplane "slowed to a point where the angle of attack was excessive." As the airplane reached the departure end of the runway, it began "a very shallow left turn" and was observed to be
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while diverting attention to an open cargo door. A factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
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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.
