# NTSB CHI00LA310: Piper PA-32-260, N33117, Petersburg, MI, September 29, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2000, 15:04 local (19:04 UTC) - Place: Petersburg, MI - Coordinates: 41.890384, -83.709129 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8904&lon=-83.7091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51075/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA310 ## Probable cause the pilots failure to abort the takeoff and obtain/maintain clearance from the corn crop. Factors were the tall, wet, grass runway, and the corn crop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted corn immediately after takeoff from a grass runway and was destroyed by a post impact fire. The pilot said he was departing on runway 27 using a short field takeoff procedure. He said that the wind was 270 degrees at 5-7 knots. He said that, during the takeoff, the airplane "settled back on down. He said that the airplane became airborne again but couldn't clear the corn crop at the end of the runway. The pilot said that the grass on the west end of the runway was about 8 inches high. In his written report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunction of the aircraft. A postaccident examination of the aircraft failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies. The inspector also noted that the grass on the runway was about 3 inches high and the grass was "very damp but firm." A weather report for a reporting station located about 13 nautical miles and 85 degrees magnetic was reporting winds, about 20 minutes after the accident, as 130 degrees at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2000, at 1504 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260, N33117, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed following takeoff, from runway 27 (2,380 feet by 110 feet turf), at the Gradolph Field Airport, Petersburg, Michigan. The aircraft sustained damage from impact forces and a post-impact fire. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight was originating with an intended destination of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. In a written statement, the pilot said that he was departing on runway 27 using a short field takeoff procedure. He said that the wind was 270 degrees at 5-7 knots. He said that the airplane reached 50 miles per hour about halfway down the runway and that "...shortly after reaching 60 mph, liftoff occurred but plane settled back down. Approx[imateley] 2/3 down runway I finally got the plane up." He said that the plane failed to climb and he couldn't clear the corn crop. The airplane impacted the corn and came to rest in the cornfield where it was consumed by a post impact fire. The pilot said that the grass on the west end of the runway was about 8 inches high. In his written report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunction of the aircraft. A postaccident examination of the aircraft, by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition. The inspector also noted that the grass on the runway was about 3 inches high and that the grass was "very damp but firm". A weather report for a reporting station located about 13 nautical miles and 85 degrees magnetic was reporting winds, about 20 minutes after the accident, as 130 degrees at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33117](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33117-2001-01-17), registration cancelled 2001-01-17, S/N 32-7500014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7500014 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eaton Professionals, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2000 - Departed: 88G - Destination: EATON RAPIDS, MI - Airport: 88G, Gradolph Field, runway 27, 2,380 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 232 total, 172 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 145 °F, dew point 109 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TTF, 13 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 20000929036929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000929036929A), Sep 29, 2000: Piper PA32260, Petersburg, MI, No damage. (-23)At approximately 1500 EDT September 29, 2000, Piper PA-32-260, N33117 operated by mark dean russell attempted a takeoff from graydolph field, Petersburg,… 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.