What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
N44293 upon departure from Boss Field at approximately 1959 zulu (15:59 local time). There were two souls onboard. Information gathered thus FAR indicated both pilot and passenger had serious injuries and were air-lifted via medevac helicopter to the hospital.
Data obtained during the investigation revealed that the technique used for the soft-field take-off was incorrect. The aircraft manufacturer states that twenty-five degrees of flaps are the required setting for operating in deep grass and the pilot selected 10 degrees. Additionally, the takeoff was attempted from a short field that had long, damp grass on a warm day with high humidity. This combination of factors may have extended the takeoff distance beyond the capability of the aircraft on that field on that day.
As the FAA filed it
N44293 UPON DEPARTURE FROM BOSS FIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 1959 ZULU (15:59 LOCAL TIME). THERE WERE TWO SOULS ONBOARD. INFORMATION GATHERED THUS FAR INDICATED BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD SERIOUS INJURIES AND WERE AIR-LIFTED VIA MEDEVAC HELICOPTER TO THE HOSPITAL.
DATA OBTAINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TECHNIQUE USED FOR THE SOFT-FIELD TAKE-OFF WAS INCORRECT. THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER STATES THAT TWENTY-FIVE DEGREES OF FLAPS ARE THE REQUIRED SETTING FOR OPERATING IN DEEP GRASS AND THE PILOT SELECTED 10 DEGREES. ADDITIONALLY, THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED FROM A SHORT FIELD THAT HAD LONG, DAMP GRASS ON A WARM DAY WITH HIGH HUMIDITY. THIS COMBINATION OF FACTORS MAY HAVE EXTENDED THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT ON THAT FIELD ON THAT DAY.
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 N44293 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.