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NTSB Report

July 31, 1999 · Piper PA-28-180 · N7521W

Edgewood, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 1999
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Edgewood, NM
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180
Tail Number
N7521W
Operator
Wayne E Huyler
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN99LA132

The pilot was departing the runway with the intention of performing touch and go landings. He stated that during takeoff, he rotated the airplane at a speed of 65 mph. He looked outside of the cockpit and noticed that the airplane was only 15 ft. above the runway. He verified that the airspeed indicated 65 mph. He leveled the nose of the airplane, and it impacted the runway. He hit his head against the panel, then felt a second impact. That was the last memory the pilot had regarding the accident. Several witnesses observed the airplane rotating at a very high angle of attack. One witness noted that the nose appeared to be pitched up at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees. The witnesses observed the airplane veer to the north side of the runway, then realign with the runway, and drift right again. The aircraft impacted several landing lights off the north side of the runway, then struck a dirt berm, followed by a barb-wire fence. At the time of the accident, the pilot had flown a total of 2.1 hours within the past 90 days, and had accumulated a total of 4.5 hours of flight time in the PA-28. Density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 8,891 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's excessive rotation during takeoff, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. Factors were the pilot's lack of recent flight experience, and the high density altitude..

Full Narrative

On July 31, 1999, approximately 0820 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7521W, was substantially damaged when it collided with objects and terrain during takeoff from Sandia Airpark Estates East, Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was departing runway 27 with the intention of performing touch and go landings. During takeoff, he rotated the airplane at a speed of 65 miles per hour (mph), the normal rotation speed in a PA-28. He looked outside of the cockpit and noticed that he was only 15 feet above the runway. He checked the airspeed indicator, and it indicted 65 mph. He stated that "upon leveling the nose of the airplane, the plane hit the runway and my head hit the forward panel dazing me. I felt the second impact and as the plane hit the runway a second time and do not remember anything else about the accident." According to one witness, he observed the aircraft's departure and noted that the airplane rotated approximately 2,000 feet down the runway. He stated that "the nose came up very fast and very high." He estimated the nose to be pitched up at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees, and the tail to be between 8 inches to 1 foot above the runway. He stated that the airplane appeared to rotate so quickly that he thought the tail was going to strike the runway. Another witness observed the airplane during departure "in an unusually nose-high attitude for takeoff." Another witness who was waiting to depart runway 27 stated that at the time, the winds were out of the west at several knots. He noted that the airplane "seemed to take longer than usual... to build up speed." When it was approximately mid-field down the runway, he observed the aircraft "in an extreme nose-high attitude with the main wheels still on the ground." The airplane veered to the north side of the runway, then realigned with the runway, and then drifted right again. He stated that the aircraft appeared to remain in a nose high attitude throughout the attempted takeoff, and never gave an indication that the takeoff was going to be aborted. He saw the aircraft impact several landing lights off the north side of the runway, and it continued westward in a nose-high attitude until striking a dirt berm at the west end of the runway. It then struck a barb-wire fence and briefly became airborne. He stated that the airplane arched 10 to 12 feet into the air and then fell nose-low to the ground. At the time of the accident, the pilot had flown a total of 2.1 hours within the past 90 days and 4.5 hours within the past 180 days, all of which was performed in the Piper PA-28. He had accumulated a total of 4.5 hours of flight time in make and model of the accident aircraft. Given the existing weather conditions at Albuquerque, located 22 nm to the west, density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 8,891 feet.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:20 MDT
Nearest AirportSandia Airpark Estates (0nm W)
Runway27
Runway Length5280 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-180
Tail NumberN7521W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWayne E Huyler
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A2A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data