Pilot Debrief

Piper PA28R near Onaga, KS — 2019-12-31

Final reportCEN20CA052
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Date
2019-12-31
Location
Onaga, KS, USA
Airport
52K
Aircraft
Piper PA28R
Registration
N3849T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane at a high gross weight from a short, turf runway, which degraded its climb performance and led to a delayed aborted takeoff, a runway excursion, and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to depart from a 2,200-ft-long turf runway with three passengers onboard. After the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot noted that it was not accelerating, and it settled back to the ground. Concerned with clearing a shed off the end of the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway into a valley. Both wings sustained substantial damage. The takeoff performance chart for the airplane, which weighed close to its maximum gross weight, indicated a ground roll of 600 ft and a takeoff distance of 1,600 ft to clear a 50-ft obstacle. The chart was based on a dry runway and did not contain a correction for a takeoff from a turf runway, which would require a longer ground roll and takeoff distance. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should not have attempted to takeoff from a short, turf runway.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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