# Accident 20060416004769A: Piper PA22, Tecumseh, OK, April 16, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 16, 2006, 20:10 local time
- Place: Tecumseh, OK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2500° N, 96.9167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2500&lon=-96.9167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N945A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N945A-2018-01-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22 (registry code 7102202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22
- Reported engine: LYC O290D
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 237 total, 46 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060416004769A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APRIL 16, 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:20 PM CDT, A PIPER PA-22, N945A, STRUCK TREETOPS (ESTIMATED 80 FT IN HEIGHT) DURING CLIMB-OUT AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATELY OWNED 1,900 FT TURF AIRSTRIP LOCATED 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE CITY OF TECUMSEH, OK. AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE APPROPRIATELY RATED PRIVATE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED AN ENGINE RUN-UP TO INCLUDE LEANING THE MIXTURE FOR BEST POWER BEFORE TAKE-OFF. HE THEN TOOK OFF FROM THE SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY. AT APPROXIMATELY 980 FT FROM THE END OF THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY, WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 60 MPH, HE APPLIED "ONE NOTCH" OF FLAPS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE APPROACHED THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE NOSE ATTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO GAIN ADDITIONAL AIRSPEED; HOWEVER, AT THAT POINT THE LANDING GEAR BEGAN TO CONTACT THE TREETOPS SLOWING HIS PROGRESS FURTHER. THE PILOT WENT ON TO STATE THAT HE THEN INCREASED THE NOSE PITCH ATTITUDE AND SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT TAIL LOW INTO THE TREES. WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT ENGINE PERFORMANCE, THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE APPEARED NORMAL. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE REVEALED EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD-UP ON EACH SPARK PLUG. AN UNKNOWN FABRIC MATERIAL WAS WRAPPED AROUND EACH EXHAUST DUCT (FLANGE-TO-FLANGE FITTINGS) AND THE CABIN HEAT DUCTING WAS WRAPPED IN AN INSULATION BLANKET OF UNKNOWN MATERIAL. THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED WITH ENGINE VALVE OR IGNITION CONTINUITY (LEADS AND MAGNETOS), FUEL SYSTEM OPERATION AND CONTAMINATION, AND AIR INDUCTION TO INCLUDE FILTRATION. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES. THE FLAPS WERE IN A LOWERED POSITION CONSISTENT WITH THE POSITION OF THE FLAP CONTROL LEVER LOCATED IN THE COCKPIT. ELEVATOR TRIM POSITION WAS NOTED IN THE FULL "NOSE-UP" POSITION. WEATHER CONDITIONS NEAR THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AT SHAWNEE, OK, LOCATED 10 MILES NORTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE AS FOLLOWS: WINDS CALM; VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, SKY CLEAR, TEMPERATURE 28 DEGREES C, DEWPOINT 8 DEGREES C, ALTIMETER 29.70. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 3,100 FEET.

## 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 DFW06CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA107), Apr 17, 2006: Piper PA-22 (N945A), Tecumseh, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and the high-density altitude.

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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