What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 18, 2013 at 1140; N7444J was involved in an accident at the Durango La Plata County Airport (dro). The aircraft had fuel and the pilot reported he supped and sampled the fuel tanks no contaminate reported. Engine was reported as running well. The pilot adjusted the engine for max RPM before starting the take-off attempt on runway 21 heading south. The density altitude was reported at 8900? Take off speed was at 80KTS. During climb out the aircraft rises approximately 100? Off of the runway at which time the aircraft is reported to not be able to climb or maintain altitude despite corrections by the pilot to both the throttle and prop settings. The aircraft begins a controlled decent back to terrain the aircraft lands 400? Off the southern end of the runway. During the controlled stop of the aircraft, the approach lights at the end of the runway were struck by the aircraft. Pilot states he calculated and adjusted his take-off speed and power settings for the density altitude that day. During this investigation the aircraft engine was inspected and no mechanical anomalies were reported.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 18, 2013 AT 1140; N7444J WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE DURANGO LA PLATA COUNTY AIRPORT (DRO). THE AIRCRAFT HAD FUEL AND THE PILOT REPORTED HE SUPPED AND SAMPLED THE FUEL TANKS NO CONTAMINATE REPORTED. ENGINE WAS REPORTED AS RUNNING WELL. THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE ENGINE FOR MAX RPM BEFORE STARTING THE TAKE-OFF ATTEMPT ON RUNWAY 21 HEADING SOUTH. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS REPORTED AT 8900? TAKE OFF SPEED WAS AT 80KTS. DURING CLIMB OUT THE AIRCRAFT RISES APPROXIMATELY 100? OFF OF THE RUNWAY AT WHICH TIME THE AIRCRAFT IS REPORTED TO NOT BE ABLE TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DESPITE CORRECTIONS BY THE PILOT TO BOTH THE THROTTLE AND PROP SETTINGS. THE AIRCRAFT BEGINS A CONTROLLED DECENT BACK TO TERRAIN THE AIRCRAFT LANDS 400? OFF THE SOUTHERN END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE CONTROLLED STOP OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE APPROACH LIGHTS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE STRUCK BY THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT STATES HE CALCULATED AND ADJUSTED HIS TAKE-OFF SPEED AND POWER SETTINGS FOR THE DENSITY ALTITUDE THAT DAY. DURING THIS INVESTIGATION THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE REPORTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.