- Date
- June 3, 1995, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Williston, ND
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5328HPiper PA-16
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950603048049A
- Case key
- 9899
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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on takeoff. The soft condition of the field was a factor.
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 reported that while attempting to take off from a dirt field, the airplane pulled to the right on the soft ground. Immediately after taking off, the airplane impacted a rise in the terrain which was an irrigation ditch located to the right of the field. The pilot stated that he just was not able to gain enough altitude prior to impacting the ditch.
Factual narrative
On June 3, 1995, at 0800 central daylight time, a Piper PA-16, N5328H, was substantially damaged when in collided with an irrigation ditch after taking off from a dirt field near Williston, North Dakota. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The intended destination was Webster, Minnesota.
While attempting to takeoff, the pilot reported the airplane pulled to the right on the soft ground. Immediately after lift off, the airplane impacted a rise in the terrain which was an irrigation ditch located to the right of the field. The pilot stated that he just did not get enough altitude to clear the ditch.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5328H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-16
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 16-133
- Airframe hours
- 2,450
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dennis E. Noteboom
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 30, 1994 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- UNK · Webster, MN
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
- 55
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 17,750 total · 80 in this make and model · 8,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 57 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.