Piper PA24 accident near Palatka, FL
On July 27, 2018, a Piper PA24 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Palatka, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 27, 2018
- Place
- Palatka, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.656°N, 81.689°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180726X13759
Official records · ERA18FA200
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 26, 2018, about 2007 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6427P, was destroyed when it impacted the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from Palatka Municipal Airport (28J), Palatka, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by the pilot who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. A witness was standing in his hangar about 200 yards from the end of runway 17 when he heard the accident airplane beginning its takeoff. He noticed that the airplane's brakes were engaged while the engine was at full throttle and he believed that the pilot was going to perform a short-field takeoff. As the airplane rolled down the runway, it's nosewheel lifted off the ground then touched down again before the airplane became airborne. The witness thought that the pilot rotated the airplane "early," as the airplane appeared slow. He added that the airplane kept climbing "steeper and steeper" and that the pilot did not lower the nose to gain airspeed. When the airplane was about 150 ft above ground level, it entered a stall and the left wing dropped; the airplane spiraled to the ground. The witness further stated that the engine was operating at full power during the entire flight. An airport security video at 28J showed the airplane immediately after takeoff as it climbed to about 150 ft; the airplane's left wing dropped and the airplane spiraled to the ground, consistent with
Probable cause
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of control.
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Browse: Florida · 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.
