# Accident 19970524011889A: Piper PA28150, Arcadia, IN, May 24, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 1997, 20:15 local time
- Place: Arcadia, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1697° N, 86.0198° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1697&lon=-86.0198&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5892W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5892W-2017-06-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-150 (registry code 7102804, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28150
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 143 total, 137 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA144) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970524011889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

STRUCK TREES TERRAIN AND BURNED ON CLIMBOUT. HAD LANDED ON RESTRICTED LANING AREA. (.4)THE PILOT MADE A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF FROM A SOD RUNWAY THAT WAS 2,500 FEET LONG. THE SOD RUNWAY WAS NOT LIGHTED, NOR WERE THERE ANY REFLECTIVE DEVICES MARKING THE THRESHOLD OR RUNWAY EDGES. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE ABOUT MIDFIELD AND DID NOT GAIN ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED AS FAST AS HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN ABOUT 1/2-MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY THE COLLISION AND A POST-COLLISION FIRE. THE PILOT SAID HE TOOK OFF DOWNWIND BECAUSE HE DID NOT BELIEVE A 7 KNOT QUARTERING TAILWIND WOULD BE A FACTOR SINCE IT WAS 'SLIGHT.'  AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME THAT WOULD PREVENT NORMAL OPERATIONS. A DRUG SCREEN PERFORMED BY THE HOSPITAL ON A SAMPLE OF THE PILOT'S URINE, OBTAINED 10 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, INDICATED 'THC PRESUMPTIVE' AND DID NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THE ACTIVE COMPONENT OF MARIJUANA) AND TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (AN INACT                                                                   IVE METABOLITE OF MARIJUANA). MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN A COAT THAT WAS IN THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT SAID THE COAT BELONGED TO THE FORMER OWNER.          (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WITH 3 ON BOARD.  AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AND STRUCK TREES SETTLING TO THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.  THE 3 ON BOARD WERE TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS WITH BURNS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA144), May 24, 1997: Piper PA-28-140 (N5892W), Arcadia, IN, destroyed. Probable cause: improper planning/decision by the pilot. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's selection of the wrong runway for takeoff, and the resultant tailwind.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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