# NTSB CHI01LA012: Piper PA-24-250, N6107P, Manhattan, KS, October 14, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 2000, 13:02 local (18:02 UTC) - Place: Manhattan, KS - Coordinates: 39.190792, -96.590301 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1908&lon=-96.5903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51083/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA012 ## Probable cause the inadequate soft field takeoff procedure by the pilot and his failure to abort the takeoff. Factors were the high grass on the runway, the pilots disregard for the runway conditions, his lack of total experience in the aircraft, the trees, and the pilots failure to maintain clearance from the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - soft field takeoff/procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain during initial climb after takeoff from a private airstrip. The runway is oriented in a predominantly north/south direction, and is about 1600 feet in length. The takeoff was executed to the north. The ferry flight was being conducted for the purpose of relocating the aircraft so that maintenance could be performed. A postaccident examination of the accident scene revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition with respect to the aircraft. The grass strip runway was found to have 3-4 inch long grass. The length of the runway was found to be about 0.3 miles long by driving its length with an automobile. A videotape of the accident flight shows that during the takeoff roll the aircraft tail was drug along the runway twice. After initially becoming airborne, the aircraft settled back onto the runway before becoming airborne again. The airplane started an increasingly steep bank to the right before contacting the trees at the departure end of the runway. In a written statement, the pilot said, "We took off down runway-900-ft-hit ruts airplane bounced into air-held nose down to build airspeed-ro[t]ated to late hit trees." In his written report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunction. In the report, the pilot listed his flight experience in this make and model of aircraft as "None". ## Factual narrative On October 14, 2000, at 1302 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6107P, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain during initial climb after takeoff from a private airstrip near Manhattan, Kansas. The runway is oriented in a predominantly north/south direction, and is about 1600 feet in length. The takeoff was executed to the north. The 14 CFR Part 91 ferry flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The flight was being conducted for the purpose of relocating the aircraft so that maintenance could be performed. The pilot was seriously injured and the one passenger received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to the Phillip Billard Municipal Airport, Topeka, Kansas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a postaccident examination of the accident scene. No anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition were found with respect to the aircraft. The grass strip runway was found to have 3-4 inch long grass. The length of the runway was found to be about 0.3 miles long by driving its length with an automobile. The FAA secured a videotape of the accident flight. The videotape shows that during the takeoff roll the aircraft tail was drug along the runway twice. After initially becoming airborne, the aircraft settled back onto the runway before becoming airborne again. The airplane started an increasingly steep bank to the right before contacting the trees at the departure end of the runway. In a written statement, the pilot said, "We took off down runway-900-ft-hit ruts airplane bounced into air-held nose down to build airspeed-ro[t]ated to late hit trees." In his written report, the pilot listed no mechanical malfunction. In the report, the pilot listed his flight experience in this make and model of aircraft as "None". ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6107P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6107P-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N 24-1206, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1827 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: John G. Poole - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVT - Destination: TOP, TOPEKA, KS - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 36, 1,600 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,295 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 162 °F, dew point 142 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MHK ## 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 20001014017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001014017219A), Oct 14, 2000: Piper PA24250, Manhattan, KS, No damage. (-23) N6107P had sat in a barn on a private airfield since 1979. There was a ferry permit to move N6107P from the short, private grass field to a topeka… 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.