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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 7, 1983 · Piper PA-28-140 · N2893T

Erie, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 7, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Erie, CO
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N2893T
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN83LA184

THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN VMC WX CONDITIONS WITH AN ARPT ELEVATION OF 5145 FT MSL AND TEMPERTAURE 86 DEGREES F. DENSITY ALT WAS 7468 FT. IN THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE VS DENSITY ALT CHART GOES TO AMAX ALT OF 7000 FT. A NOTE SAYS 'EXTRAPOLATION OF THE CHART ABOVE 7000 FT DENSITY ALT IS INVALID'. AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR STATED THAT A TAKEOFF SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED IF THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE CANNOT BE DETERMINED BY THE CHARTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN THE THE MIXTURE WAS LEANED USING THE PILOTS TECHNIQUE. IT WAS FOUND THAT 100 MORE RPM WAS OBTAINED WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS SET WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEANED AN ADDITIONAL 1/2 INCH. THE PLT HAD USED RWY 15 WHICH IS 5400 FT LONG FOR TAKEOFF. TAKEOFF ROLL WAS LONGER THAN USUAL & THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE 200 FT. THE TERRAIN WAS RISING TO THE SOUTH SO THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD ONE MILE SOUTH OF THE ARPT.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF IN VMC WX CONDITIONS WITH AN ARPT ELEVATION OF 5145 FT MSL AND TEMPERTAURE 86 DEGREES F. DENSITY ALT WAS 7468 FT. IN THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE VS DENSITY ALT CHART GOES TO AMAX ALT OF 7000 FT. A NOTE SAYS 'EXTRAPOLATION OF THE CHART ABOVE 7000 FT DENSITY ALT IS INVALID'. AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR STATED THAT A TAKEOFF SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED IF THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE CANNOT BE DETERMINED BY THE CHARTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN THE THE MIXTURE WAS LEANED USING THE PILOTS TECHNIQUE. IT WAS FOUND THAT 100 MORE RPM WAS OBTAINED WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS SET WITH THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEANED AN ADDITIONAL 1/2 INCH. THE PLT HAD USED RWY 15 WHICH IS 5400 FT LONG FOR TAKEOFF. TAKEOFF ROLL WAS LONGER THAN USUAL & THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE 200 FT. THE TERRAIN WAS RISING TO THE SOUTH SO THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD ONE MILE SOUTH OF THE ARPT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 MDT
Nearest AirportTri-County (1nm SSE)
Runway15
Runway Length5400 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN2893T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 6 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data