Pilot Debrief

Piper PA-32RT near Malad, ID — 2018-09-26

Final reportWPR18LA275
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Date
2018-09-26
Location
Malad, ID, USA
Airport
MLD
Aircraft
Piper PA-32RT
Registration
N24BA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to identify that he was not utilizing the full runway for takeoff, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he did not realize that he entered the runway at the taxiway intersection about halfway down the 5,000-ft-long runway. During the takeoff ground roll, the airplane’s speed was about 60 knots (below rotation speed) when he realized that the end of the runway was approaching, and he needed to either lift off or abort the takeoff. The pilot attempted to continue the takeoff, but the airplane would not lift off. The pilot subsequently applied the brakes to try and stop, however there was not enough runway remaining and the airplane continued off the end of the runway, over a road, and struck a drainage ditch. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that if the pilot had utilized the full available runway for the takeoff, or had aborted the takeoff sooner, the runway excursion would not have occurred.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff earlier when realizing speed was insufficient.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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