# Accident 20030523015109A: Piper PA32260, Lake Wales, FL, May 23, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2003, 09:00 local time
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.8092° N, 81.6658° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8092&lon=-81.6658&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3921W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3921W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32260
- Reported engine: LYC O540*
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,560 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA03LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA111) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030523015109A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FRIDAY 23 MAY, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 09:00 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, MR. JAMES A. CALDWELL, HOLDER OF PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE NO. 266560335, ATTEMPTED AN UNSUCCESSFUL TAKEOFF OFF OF A WET 3000 FOOT TURF RUNWAY FOR A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO THE BAHAMA ISLANDS IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPARENTLY HEAVILY LOADED AND USED UP ABOUT 2000 FEET OF RUNWAY BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED OUT OF GROUND EFFECT AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT WENT THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET OF BARBED WIRE FENCE AND WOODEN FENCE POSTS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR HIS PASSENGERS. MARGINAL VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 MIA03LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA111), May 23, 2003: Piper PA-32-260 (N3921W), Fort Meade, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Thew failure of the pilot to abort the takeoff after travelling past the estimated point of liftoff, and failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during the initial climb resulting in inadvertent…

## Other reports on N3921W (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20001230039919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001230039919I), Dec 30, 2000: Piper PA32260 (N3921W), Zephyrhills, FL, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot on VFR flight from vandenburg airport (X16). No FAA flight plan on file. Landed on runway 36. Lost control due to cross wind. Weather reported at…
- [Incident 19880205043839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880205043839I), Feb 5, 1988: Piper PA32260 (N3921W), Bartow, FL. Pilot caught in IFR conditions. Advised tpa apc low on fuel. Tpa provided reassurance and vectors to a VFR airport.

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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