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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 11, 1986 · Piper PA-28-151 · N44291

Grain Valley, MO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 11, 1986
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 serious injuries, 2 minor injuries)
Location
Grain Valley, MO
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-151
Tail Number
N44291
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC87FA030

The pilot stated, after takeoff the engine sputtered and began losing power during initial climb. According to the pilot, he tried to land on a highway but there were numerous vehicles in transit and he decided to attempt an off-airport landing. On initial impact with the right wing, the aircraft tore off a branch from a tree, then struck a grassy knoll with the right wing tip. Main impact occurred with a branch of a second tree and the aircraft came to rest inverted. Post accident calculations revealed that the aircraft was 67 pounds over the max allowable gross weight, and within the C.G. range during takeoff. A subsequent engine teardown inspection revealed no preexisting condition, malfunction, or abnormal wear. According to witnesses at the airport, the pilot was observed attempting to remove frost from the wings and was running the engine at idle for almost 30 minutes before takeoff was initiated. Carburetor heat was found in the off position.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED, AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND BEGAN LOSING POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE TRIED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY BUT THERE WERE NUMEROUS VEHICLES IN TRANSIT AND HE DECIDED TO ATTEMPT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. ON INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE RIGHT WING, THE AIRCRAFT TORE OFF A BRANCH FROM A TREE, THEN STRUCK A GRASSY KNOLL WITH THE RIGHT WING TIP. MAIN IMPACT OCCURRED WITH A BRANCH OF A SECOND TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. POST ACCIDENT CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS 67 POUNDS OVER THE MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, AND WITHIN THE C.G. RANGE DURING TAKEOFF. A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEARDOWN INSPECTION REVEALED NO PREEXISTING CONDITION, MALFUNCTION, OR ABNORMAL WEAR. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE FROST FROM THE WINGS AND WAS RUNNING THE ENGINE AT IDLE FOR ALMOST 30 MINUTES BEFORE TAKEOFF WAS INITIATED. CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:45 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-151
Tail NumberN44291
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 serious injuries, 2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind270° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data