- Date
- March 6, 2010, 13:21 local (18:21 UTC)
- Place
- Martinsville, IN
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6852WPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 1, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20100306029019A
- Case key
- 75470
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 pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his exceedance of the airplane's takeoff capability.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting a takeoff on runway 27 when the airplane overran the runway and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included a damaged firewall and right wing. The nearest weather reporting station recorded variable winds at 3 knots about 30 minutes after the accident. The pilot and three passengers were uninjured. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was about 131 pounds over gross takeoff weight at the time of the accident. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was overdue for an annual inspection since it was last inspected in January 2009. The pilot's airman medical certificate was expired after his airman medical application for a third class medical was denied on August 13, 2007.
Factual narrative
The pilot was attempting a takeoff on runway 27 (2,000 feet by 90 feet, turf) when the airplane overran the runway and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included a damaged firewall and right wing. The nearest weather reporting station recorded variable winds at 3 knots about 30 minutes after the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was about 131 pounds over gross takeoff weight at the time of the accident. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was overdue for an annual inspection since it was last inspected in January 2009. The pilot's airman medical certificate was expired after his airman medical application for a third class medical was denied on August 13, 2007.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6852W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-21008
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 31, 2009
- Departed
- 90IN · Martinsville, IN
- Destination
- 90IN · Martinsville, IN
- Airport
- 90IN · McDaniel's Field, runway 27, 2,000 × 90 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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Observed at
- BMG, 17 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
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 N6852W · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.