What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
N316MA, a Diamond DA-40, attempted takeoff from a grass field that is not a federal aviation administration (FAA) recognized airport. Upon lift-off, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree that was 40 feet beyond the end of the runway and 10 feet above the field elevation. The impact caused the aircraft to rotate left and subsequently strike and cut low tension power lines. The aircraft impacted the ground nose first and came to rest upright, facing 180 degrees to the initial direction of departure. The grass field is 1,133 feet long, with approximately a 1.5 degree up-slope in the direction of intended takeoff, and trees of approximately 50 feet at the end. The temperature at the time of the accident was 87 degrees farenheit and the winds were approximately 3 knots. The aircraft estimated weight was under gross and within center of gravity limits. FAA approved aircraft flight manual (AFM) limitations prescribe approximately 1,065 feet required for ground roll and 1,525 feet required to clear a 50 foot obstacle. AFM limitations indicate that there was not sufficient distance for the pilot to takeoff and clear obstacles.
As the FAA filed it
N316MA, A DIAMOND DA-40, ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS FIELD THAT IS NOT A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) RECOGNIZED AIRPORT. UPON LIFT-OFF, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE THAT WAS 40 FEET BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND 10 FEET ABOVE THE FIELD ELEVATION. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE LEFT AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRIKE AND CUT LOW TENSION POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT, FACING 180 DEGREES TO THE INITIAL DIRECTION OF DEPARTURE. THE GRASS FIELD IS 1,133 FEET LONG, WITH APPROXIMATELY A 1.5 DEGREE UP-SLOPE IN THE DIRECTION OF INTENDED TAKEOFF, AND TREES OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AT THE END. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 87 DEGREES FARENHEIT AND THE WINDS WERE APPROXIMATELY 3 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT ESTIMATED WEIGHT WAS UNDER GROSS AND WITHIN CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS. FAA APPROVED AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL (AFM) LIMITATIONS PRESCRIBE APPROXIMATELY 1,065 FEET REQUIRED FOR GROUND ROLL AND 1,525 FEET REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE. AFM LIMITATIONS INDICATE THAT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT DISTANCE FOR THE PILOT TO TAKEOFF AND CLEAR OBSTACLES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N316MA · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.