- Date
- May 1, 1996, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Cochran, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1209CPiper PA-22-135
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960501012839A
- Case key
- 3726
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, when the airplane encountered an uneven area on the airstrip and becoming airborne prematurely; and his failure to maintain clearance (or altitude) from trees, which were adjacent to the airstrip. The uneven surface of the airstrip and proximity of trees were related factors.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated the airplane hit a bump on the takeoff roll, and became airborne prematurely. The airplane veered to the right at a very slow airspeed. At that point, the CFI elected to continue the takeoff, rather than land. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed; however, he was unable to attain sufficient airspeed and altitude to clear trees that were ahead. The airplane collided with the trees, then impacted the terrain.
Factual narrative
On May 1, 1996, at about 1915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-22-135, N1209C, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight crashed on initial takeoff climb in the vicinity of Cochran, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot/certified flight instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Wimberly Strip, Cochran, Georgia, about 1 minute before the accident.
The certified flight instructor stated the airplane hit a bump on the takeoff roll, and became airborne prematurely. The airplane veered to the right at a very slow airspeed. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed, however he did not obtain the proper climb rate. The airplane collided with trees and crashed into the terrain.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1209C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-135
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1015
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1O-290, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Aaron W. Scarborough
- Registered owner
- Kevin R. Kirtley
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,650 total · 11 in this make and model · 4,483 as pilot in command · 128 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCN, 35 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.
Other investigations on N1209C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.