# NTSB ATL05CA080: Piper J4E, N35920, Akron, AL, May 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2005, 19:15 local (May 16, 2005, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Akron, AL - Coordinates: 32.223056, -87.613891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2231&lon=-87.6139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO-09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's premature liftoff and his failure to attain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush. Also causal was the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - attempted, pilot in command - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated he started the takeoff roll on runway 19 with no noticeable head wind. The airplane accelerated down the runway to a point where he normally rotates the airplane at 50 mph. The pilot observed the airspeed indicator slightly below 50 mph, applied aft pressure on the flight controls, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot observed a decrease in airspeed and knew he could not clear trees located off the departure end of the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff by reducing power. The airplane touched back on the ground and the pilot applied aft pressure on the flight controls. The airplane became airborne and touched back down on the ground. The pilot started a left turn maneuver to avoid the trees and applied brakes. The pilot stated he lost directional control, the nose and right wing collided with the ground. The pilot further stated there were no anomalies noted with the airframe, flight controls, or engine assembly. ## Factual narrative on May 15, 2005, at 1915 central daylight time, a Piper J4E, N35920, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, reported a loss of directional control while maneuvering to avoid obstructions during an aborted take off. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight was originating from a private airstrip in Akron, Alabama, on May 15, 2005 at 1914. The pilot stated he started the take off roll on runway 19 with no noticeable head wind. The airplane accelerated down the runway to a point where he normally rotates the airplane at 50 mph. The pilot observed the airspeed indicator slightly below 50 mph, applied aft pressure on the flight controls, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot observed a decrease in airspeed and knew he could not clear trees located off the departure end of the runway. The pilot aborted the take off by reducing power. The airplane touched back on the ground and the pilot applied aft pressure on the flight controls. The airplane became airborne and touched back down on the ground. The pilot started a left turn maneuver to avoid the trees and applied brakes. The pilot stated he lost directional control, the nose and right wing collided with the ground. The pilot further stated there were no anomalies noted with the airframe, flight controls, or engine assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35920](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35920), registered now, S/N 4-1450, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J4E - Registry model: [Piper J4E](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j4e) (registry code 7100610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4-1450 - Airframe hours: 2220.2 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas M. Strickland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 7 hours before - Departed: Akron, AL - Airport: NONE, Strickland Smalley Field, runway 19, 2,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 299 total, 192 in this make and model, 234 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: TCL, 25 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050515009809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050515009809A), May 15, 2005: Piper J4E, Akron, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 15, 2005, at 1915 central daylight time, a Piper PA-J4E, registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] crashed while attempting to avoid… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.