# NTSB CHI88DEX03: Piper PA-28-140, N15567, Evansville, IN, March 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1988, 17:19 local (23:19 UTC)
- Place: Evansville, IN
- Coordinates: 37.979328, -87.540283 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9793&lon=-87.5403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88DEX03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13911/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEX03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

PILOT ATTEMPTED MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT TAKE-OFF FROM SOFT SOGGY FIELD WITH 10 DEGREE FLAPS SELECTED. STALL WARNING ACTIVATED ON LIFT-OFF, AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET THEN BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED, MADE UNCONTROLLED LANDING IN MUDDY FIELD ONE-HALF MILE FROM AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND FORWARD CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT WAS EXCEEDED. AIRCRAFT OPERATING MANUAL RECOMMENDS 25 DEGREE FLAPS FOR SOFT FIELD TAKE-OFF. THIS WAS PILOT'S FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15567](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15567-1988-09-07), registration cancelled 1988-09-07, S/N 287325099 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7325099
- Airframe hours: 2479
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Oliver Z. Willis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1987, 75 hours before
- Departed: SKY, EVANSVILLE
- Destination: 3EV
- Airport: 3EV, Sky Lane, runway 36, 2,100 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 583 total, 19 in this make and model, 392 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EVV, 5 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 19880316005449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880316005449A), Mar 16, 1988: Piper STCPA28, Evansville, IN, Substantial damage. Tried to take off from small soft sod strip with full load and flaps incorrectly set. Struck trees on end of runway.

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.

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