- Date
- December 31, 2019, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Onaga, KS
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3849TPiper PA28R
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 16, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20191231020669A
- Case key
- 100751
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 improper decision to take off with the airplane at a high gross weight from a short, turf runway, which degraded its climb performance and led to a delayed aborted takeoff, a runway excursion, and impact with terrain.
Findings · 6
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 to depart from a 2,200-ft-long turf runway with three passengers onboard. After the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot noted that it was not accelerating, and it settled back to the ground. Concerned with clearing a shed off the end of the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway into a valley. Both wings sustained substantial damage. The takeoff performance chart for the airplane, which weighed close to its maximum gross weight, indicated a ground roll of 600 ft and a takeoff distance of 1,600 ft to clear a 50-ft obstacle. The chart was based on a dry runway and did not contain a correction for a takeoff from a turf runway, which would require a longer ground roll and takeoff distance. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should not have attempted to takeoff from a short, turf runway.
Factual narrative
The private pilot and three passengers were attempting to depart from a 2,200 ft long turf runway. After lifting off the ground, the pilot observed the airplane not accelerating and it settled back to the ground. Concerned with clearing a shed off the end of the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff and the airplane departed the runway into a valley, damaging both wings. The takeoff performance chart for the airplane, which weighed close to its maximum gross weight, predicted a ground roll of 600 ft and a takeoff distance of 1,600 ft. The chart was based on a dry runway and did not contain a correction for turf conditions. Following the accident, the pilot stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane and that he should not have attempted to takeoff on the short turf runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3849T
- Reported as
- Piper PA28R (180)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-30171
- Built
- 1967
- Airframe hours
- 5,397
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Express Flight
- Registered owner
- Hasler Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2018
- Departed
- 52K · Onaga, KS
- Destination
- STJ · St Joseph, MO
- Airport
- 52K · Charles E Grutzmacher Muni, runway 36, 2,200 × 61 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot
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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 6, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 120 total · 14 in this make and model · 67 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KMHK, 32 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 26, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.7 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 N3849T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.