What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 3/13/2004 at approximately 1445 PST, privacy data omitted, pilot in command of American AA1 aircraft, N6175L, crashed during an aborted takeoff from Selma Airport runway 28, Selma, CA. privacy data omitted Was conducting an aircraft orientation flight for privacy data omitted, a personal friend and fellow pilot. After completing a pre-takeoff check, including an engine run-up and magneto check, privacy data omitted began the takeoff under the supervision of privacy data omitted. Engine operation and acceleration appeared normal and the aircraft was rotated at 65 mph. The airplane became airborne and settled back to the runway. The aircraft was accelerated to 70 mph and rotated a second time, it became airborne but remained in ground effect. With the aircraft approaching the end of the runway, privacy data omitted took control and closed the throttle to abort the takeoff. In an attempt to avoid striking the berm at the end of the runway, he unsuccessfully tried to turn parallel to the obstruction. The aircraft impacted the berm at an estimated 50 mph, became airborne and came to rest in a vineyard. There were no injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 3/13/2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 1445 PST, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, PILOT IN COMMAND OF AMERICAN AA1 AIRCRAFT, N6175L, CRASHED DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF FROM SELMA AIRPORT RUNWAY 28, SELMA, CA. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS CONDUCTING AN AIRCRAFT ORIENTATION FLIGHT FOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A PERSONAL FRIEND AND FELLOW PILOT. AFTER COMPLETING A PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK, INCLUDING AN ENGINE RUN-UP AND MAGNETO CHECK, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BEGAN THE TAKEOFF UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ENGINE OPERATION AND ACCELERATION APPEARED NORMAL AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROTATED AT 65 MPH. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH AND ROTATED A SECOND TIME, IT BECAME AIRBORNE BUT REMAINED IN GROUND EFFECT. WITH THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHING THE END OF THE RUNWAY, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOOK CONTROL AND CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID STRIKING THE BERM AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO TURN PARALLEL TO THE OBSTRUCTION. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE BERM AT AN ESTIMATED 50 MPH, BECAME AIRBORNE AND CAME TO REST IN A VINEYARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.