19990502004249A

Acft struck tree tops after departing from a Private strip, crashed in a wooded area, and was destroyed, all 3 POB suffered fatal injuries, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on may 2, 1999, at 1045 eastern daylight time (EDT) a Piper PA-28R-201, N5274A, operated by a Private pilot was destroyed when just after takeoff, the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted into a wooded area. A post-impact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR part 91. No flight plan was on file. The first pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and passenger in the rear seat, were fatally injured. The cross-country flight originated at a Private airstrip located, 2 miles north of Curran, Michigan, and was en route to detroit, Michigan. The NTSB on scene investigation began on may 3, 1999, at 0830 EDT. The accident site was located in a heavily-wooded area on a 1,200 acre, privately-owned hunting camp. The remains of the airplane rested mostly upright at the base of a pine tree, approximately 175 feet north of the departure end of a 3,000 foot long, 100 foot wide, east-west runnin, Private airstrip. Several pine trees, preceding the wreckage were progressively damaged or knocked over, along a 040 degree magnetic heading. The airplane's engine and propeller were found resting inverted next to the base of the pine tree. The propeller showed chordwise scratches, torsional bending and tip-curling. The engine rested on the melted remains of the airplane's upper cowling. It was heavily charred and melted. The remaining airplane, aft of the firewall, to include the cabin, fuselage, both wings, and empennage, was melted and consumed. (-23)witness at the departure end of runway stated that the takeoff run appeared normal but the wings were waging. The aircraft then fell off to the left impacting in pine trees approx 250FT. To the left of the runway. Aircraft was consumed by fire. Control continuity check after the accident revealed that the nose down stabilator control cable was frayed and separated approximately four foot aft of its attach point to the control wheel system. Lab analysis indicated overload failure of the cable. (.4)the pilot's father was positioned at the departure end of runway 09. From there, he watched the airplane make its takeoff run. He said that the airplane was about 1,000 feet down the runway when it got into the air. 'The plane went up about 35 to 50 feet [above the ground] and flew down the runway without gaining altitude. It was wobbling and veered off to the left, crashing into the trees, and then exploded.' The airstrip was oriented on a 090-270 magnetic heading. On the 090 degree orientation, the airstrip was 2,500 feet in usable length, with 500 additional feet beyond what was marked as the departure end of the airstrip. At the end of the 3,000 total feet was a heavily-wooded area consisting of 50 to 60 foot high pine trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The PA-28R-201 pilot's operating handbook, takeoff performance tables show that for a 2,750 pound airplane, a temperature of 21 degrees centigrade, pressure altitude of 1180 feet mean sea level, zero wind, and using 25 degrees of flaps, the takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot barrier is 2,000 feet. For the same conditions, but using a zero flap setting, the takeoff distance needed to clear a 5 0 foot barrier is 2750 feet.