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July 3, 1987 · Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · N9385C

Liberty, NC

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 3, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Liberty, NC
Aircraft
Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30
Tail Number
N9385C
Operator
Causey Aviation Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL87LA202

BFR DEPARTING ON A NGT FLT, THE ACFT WAS LOADED UNTIL IT WAS AT OR NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT. THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE WAS TAKING OFF ON A 3000' RWY, THE ENG 'COUGHED' AFTER THE ACFT HAD ACCELERATED TO ABOUT THE ROTATION SPEED & WAS APRX 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. BFR STOPPING, THE ACFT WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT & THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM & AN OPNL CHECK OF THE ENG REVEALED NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, EXCEPT FOR A RICH IDLE MIXTURE. ABOUT 19 MI NW AT GREENSBORO, NC, THE WX WAS: 7000 FT BRKN, 15 MI VIS, WIND FROM 200 DEG AT 7 KTS, TEMP 74, DEW POINT 70, ALTIMETER SETTING 30.03' HG. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT OPERATOR'S MANUAL, 840' OF PAVED RWY WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO STOP. SKID MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE LAST 500' OF THE RWY & ACROSS 250' OF SOD BEFORE THE ACFT WENT OFF THE EMBANKMENT.

Full Narrative

BFR DEPARTING ON A NGT FLT, THE ACFT WAS LOADED UNTIL IT WAS AT OR NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT. THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE WAS TAKING OFF ON A 3000' RWY, THE ENG 'COUGHED' AFTER THE ACFT HAD ACCELERATED TO ABOUT THE ROTATION SPEED & WAS APRX 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY. HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. BFR STOPPING, THE ACFT WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT & THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM & AN OPNL CHECK OF THE ENG REVEALED NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, EXCEPT FOR A RICH IDLE MIXTURE. ABOUT 19 MI NW AT GREENSBORO, NC, THE WX WAS: 7000 FT BRKN, 15 MI VIS, WIND FROM 200 DEG AT 7 KTS, TEMP 74, DEW POINT 70, ALTIMETER SETTING 30.03' HG. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT OPERATOR'S MANUAL, 840' OF PAVED RWY WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO STOP. SKID MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE LAST 500' OF THE RWY & ACROSS 250' OF SOD BEFORE THE ACFT WENT OFF THE EMBANKMENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:00 EDT
Nearest AirportCAUSEY (0nm N)
Runway20
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30
Tail NumberN9385C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCausey Aviation Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · TIO-540-S1AD · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 32 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind200° @ 7 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 7000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:53

Appendix: Source Data