# NTSB CHI94LA318: Piper PA-38-112, N4286E, West Branch, MI, September 9, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1994, 22:40 local (Sep 9, 1994, 02:40 UTC) - Place: West Branch, MI - Coordinates: 44.270275, -84.230865 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2703&lon=-84.2309&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9672 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA318 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9672/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA318 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper preflight planning in estimating the takeoff distance. The tall, wet grass on the runway was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF AT A PRIVATE FIELD ON AN 1,800 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY SURFACE CONSISTED OF WET GRASS ABOUT SIX INCHES TALL. HE SAID HE CALCULATED THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE ON A GRASS RUNWAY TO BE 880 FEET. ABOUT THREE FOURTHS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT FELT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO BECOME AIRBORNE. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1994, about 2240 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112 airplane, N4286E, sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway during an aborted takeoff from the Thompson Airport, West Branch, Michigan. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was planned to Mason, Michigan, in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported the runway surface was wet grass about six inches tall. He calculated the takeoff distance to be 800 feet for a dry, paved runway then added 10 percent due to the grass runway. He said he used short, soft field takeoff procedures during the attempt to depart the 1,800 foot long runway. When the airplane reached a speed of 55 knots he lowered the flaps and rotated but the airplane did not become airborne. About three-fourths of the way down the runway he elected to abort the takeoff. He shut down the engine, applied wheel brakes, and steered around trees. The nose wheel caught in a shallow ditch and a wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, wings, and fuselage. The PA-38-112 pilot's operating handbook (POH) contains takeoff performance graphs for a "paved level dry runway" with zero and one notch wing flaps. The POH warns that "performance information derived by extrapolation beyond the limits shown on the charts should not be used for flight planning purposes." The normal takeoff section specifies "normally, flaps are left up for takeoffs; however for short field takeoffs and for takeoffs under such conditions as deep grass or a soft surface, total distances can be reduced appreciably by lowering the flaps one notch and rotating at a lower airspeed." No performance data is provided for these conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4286E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4286E-1997-11-06), registration cancelled 1997-11-06, S/N 3878A0530 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-780530 - Airframe hours: 5876 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind Aviation, doing business as Aerogenesis Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Westwind Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1994, 0 hours before - Destination: 09G, MASON, MI - Airport: Thompson Airport, runway 16, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 163 total, 101 in this make and model, 163 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MBS, 48 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 19940908032219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940908032219A), Sep 8, 1994: Piper PA38112, West Branch, MI, Substantial damage. Tried short field takeoff on wet grass strip then aborted. Veered off runway. Collapsed nose gear. Bent fuselage. 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.