# Accident 20020818037719A: Piper PA28180, Deerfield, VA, August 18, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 18, 2002, 15:15 local time
- Place: Deerfield, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2042° N, 79.3444° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2042&lon=-79.3444&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5295L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5295L-2002-12-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02FA166) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020818037719A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT ELECTED TAKEOFF WITH A TAILWIND OF ABOUT 15 KNOTS AND A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 95 DEG. F. FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRFIELD, 2440 FEET LONG. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 4200 FEET. TAKEOFF WAS UPSLOPE, HEADING 150 DEG. THE RUNWAY RISES 75 FEET FROM TAKE-OFF AND AND THE TERRAIN CONTINUES TO RISE AT ABOUT THE SAME RATE ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRCRAFT WALLOWED AFTER INITIAL CLIMB AND FIRST TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT THEN BACK TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW ABOUT 30 FEET, STRUCK A SECOND TREE ABOUT TEN FEET FROM THE TOP, FLEW OVER A SINGLE STORY BUILDING, STALLED, ROLLED, AND STRUCK THE GROUND IN AN EXTREME NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITH THE TOP OF THE FUSELAGE TOWARD THE AIRFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT BURNED. THE PILOT FLYING IS NOT KNOWN; THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT. FLAP SETTING WAS FOUND AT 40 DEG. SETTING AT TAKEOFF IS NOT CERTAIN. FUEL ON BOARD WAS 35 GALLONS ESTIMATED. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK, AT 4200 FEET DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE AIRCRAFT REQUIRES 25 DEG. OF FLAPS AND ABOUT 2250 FEET TO CLEAR A 50-FOOT BARRIER FROM A PAVED, LEVEL, AND DRY RUNWAY. NO FACTORS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOFF ON AN UP-SLOPING, GRASS RUNWAY WITHTAILWIND CONDITIONS.

## 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 NYC02FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02FA166), Aug 18, 2002: Piper PA-28-180 (N5295L), Deerfield, VA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight decision to takeoff on an up-sloping runway with a tailwind, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with a tree. Factors were the pilot's lack of…

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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