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NTSB Report

August 3, 2012 · Piper PA-22-160 · N9626D

White City, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 3, 2012
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
White City, OR
Aircraft
Piper PA-22-160
Tail Number
N9626D
Operator
Newton Grace M
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12CA343

The owner/student pilot flew from her home airport to an airstrip she had been to previously. The departure, flight, and landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. After shutdown at the destination airport, the pilot refueled by topping off both 18-gallon wing tanks. After that, she initiated her departure from the 3,000-foot dirt/turf runway. According to the pilot, the airplane's main landing gear bungee cords had recently been replaced and were significantly stiffer than the old ones, which caused the airplane to bounce more than she was used to on the dirt strip. At some point, the airplane bounced up off the runway, and the pilot pulled the control stick aft in order to remain airborne. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot was unable to control or correct that turn. She applied more back pressure to climb over the hangar in her path and attempted to climb over the trees beyond the hangar. However, the airplane struck the trees and descended rapidly into a small clearing about 1,300 feet down the runway and about 400 feet from the runway centerline, where it stopped. Fire erupted almost immediately, but the pilot was able to exit through a cabin door. Much of the fabric-covered airplane and its contents were consumed by the fire. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane and that the wind was light and variable at the time. She also stated that the airplane became airborne prematurely due to the bounce and that she should have forced the airplane back onto the ground until it obtained sufficient speed for flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's attempt to keep the airplane airborne and continue the takeoff after the airplane bounced off the turf runway prematurely during the takeoff roll.

Full Narrative

The owner/student pilot flew from her home airport to an airstrip she had been to previously. The departure, flight, and landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane were uneventful. After shutdown at the destination airport, the pilot refueled by topping off both 18-gallon wing tanks. After that, she initiated her departure from the dirt/turf runway, which measured 3,000 feet by 130 feet. According to the pilot, the airplane's main landing gear bungee cords had recently been replaced, and were significantly stiffer than the old ones, which caused the airplane to bounce more than she was used to on the dirt strip. At some point the airplane bounced up off the runway, and the pilot pulled the control stick aft in order to remain airborne, and to fly away. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the pilot was unable to control or correct that turn. She applied more back pressure to climb over the hangar in her path, and attempted to climb over the trees beyond the hangar. However, the airplane struck the trees, and descended rapidly into a small clearing about 1,300 feet down the runway and about 400 from the runway centerline, where it stopped. Fire broke out almost immediately, but the pilot was able to exit though a cabin door. Much of the fabric-covered airplane and its contents were consumed by the fire. In her accident form provided to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. She reported that winds were light and variable at the time. She also concluded that the airplane became airborne prematurely due to the bounce, and that she should have forced the airplane back onto the ground until it obtained sufficient speed for flight.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 PDT
Nearest AirportBeagle Sky Ranch (0nm)
Runway15
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width130 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-22-160
Tail NumberN9626D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorNewton Grace M
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 SERIES · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 26 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data