- Date
- July 4, 1999, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Chuckey, TN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9361JPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 10, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990704008269A
- Case key
- 46735
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
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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
Shortly after liftoff from the runway, a climb profile could not be maintained. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff procedure. While maneuvering for a forced landing, the left wing collided with a utility pole, and the airplane ditched in a nearby pond. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. He also reported that, within a few minutes of his attempted takeoff, several other airplanes had departed the airstrip without experiencing a problem. A review of current weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that the temperature was 90 degrees, and the dew point was 72 degrees. According to icing probability charts, conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Factual narrative
On July 4, 1999, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N9361J, ditched in a pond following an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip near Chuckey, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Chuckey, Tennessee, at 1644.
Reportedly, the airplane took off from the private airstrip at Chuckey Road. According to the pilot, shortly after liftoff from the runway a climb profile could not be maintained. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff procedure. While maneuvering for a forced landing, the left wing collided with a utility pole, and the airplane ditched in a nearby pond.
The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. The pilot also reported that, within a few minutes of his attempted takeoff, several other airplanes had departed the airstrip without experiencing a problem. A review of current weather data from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The temperature was 90 degrees, and the dew point was 72 degrees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9361J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-3460
- Airframe hours
- 2,500
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles W. Susong
- Registered owner
- Kevin Cooper
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 5, 1999 · 30 hours before
- Airport
- Hufaker Field, runway 19, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 350 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TRI, 30 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.