20190706009339A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32-260 · Seldovia, AK · July 6, 2019

Date: July 6, 2019 · 16:00 local
Place: Seldovia, AK
Airport: Seldovia
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3556W
NTSB investigation: NTSBGAA19CA387
Reported as: Piper PA-32-260
People aboard: 5
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,229 total671 in this make and model27 in the last 90 days

N3556WRegistration cancelled Feb 28, 2020 · Piper PA-32-260S/N 32-444 · Built 1966 Airframe modelPiper PA-32-260 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft departed rwy 34 at Seldovia in very light wind conditions and heavy load, though within weight limitations of aircraft.

Just after rotation, aircraft possibly encountered wind shear to a tail wind, and aircraft stopped climbing. Aircraft impacted tree branch, and pilot made emergency landing in lagoon area.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RWY 34 AT SELDOVIA IN VERY LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS AND HEAVY LOAD, THOUGH WITHIN WEIGHT LIMITATIONS OF AIRCRAFT.

JUST AFTER ROTATION, AIRCRAFT POSSIBLY ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR TO A TAIL WIND, AND AIRCRAFT STOPPED CLIMBING. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREE BRANCH, AND PILOT MADE EMERGENCY LANDING IN LAGOON AREA.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA19CA387Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportSeldovia, AKThe pilot's failure to attain a sufficient climb following a short-field takeoff, which resulted in collision with trees.Jul 7, 2019 · Substantial damage