- Date
- December 8, 1991, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Camdenton, MO
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N39555Piper PA-32RT/300T
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911208055099A
- Case key
- 15276
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 disregard for wind conditions, not aborting the takeoff, and inadequate remedial action by the pilot after the airplane became airborne. Factors associated with the accident are an inadequate weather evaluation by the pilot, not maintaining directional control during the takeoff roll, and after liftoff, on the part of the pilot. Additional factors contributing to this accident were self-induced pressure and an over-confidence in personal ability on behalf of the pilot.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the high performance single-engine airplane obtained a weather briefing prior to arriving at the departure airport. Upon arrival, the pilot conversed with the airport manager. The airport manager obtained current weather conditions for the pilot which related to an airport approximately 10 miles northeast. The reported winds were 200 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 31 knots. The pilot departed runway 15 shortly after obtaining the wind information. The airport manager stated he observed the airplane's main landing gear tires smoking during the takeoff roll. Shortly after this he heard an explosion and saw fire and smoke. A fireman who arrived shortly after the accident observed the wind sock pointing in a southeasterly direction. The runway displayed 1,609 feet of skid marks making a gradual arc to the right. The clearway, between the runway and taxiway, displayed 334 feet of tire depression and furrow marks which paraleled the runway before termination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39555
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32RT/300T (PA-32RT/30)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-788710B
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gene E. Decker
- Registered owner
- Gene E. Decker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- STL · St. Louis, MO
- Airport
- H21 · Camdenton, runway 15, 3,450 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 664 total · 67 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 22 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- A1Z, 10 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.