CHI96LA003

During takeoff roll the pilot noted that the airplane was not generating enough airspeed to fly. Prior to reaching the end of the runway, the pilot 'pulled the nosewheel of the airplane off the ground and bounced into the air.' He leveled the nose when the airplane was approximately 10-15 feet above the ground but the airplane immediately rolled left and the left wing struck the ground. The airfield was described as a grass strip with a significant upslope. The grass was approximately a foot high and wet. No guidance is provided in the pilot's operating handbook for takeoff on wet or unprepared surfaces. The PA-28-236 takeoff ground roll chart for a dry, paved runway, using the conditions existing at the time of the accident, indicates a takeoff ground roll of 1000 feet.

On October 9, 1995, at 1400 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 236, N9090X, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when, after takeoff, the aircraft's left wing struck an embankment and subsequently came to rest in a marsh. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or the two passengers. The flight originated near Thorp, Wisconsin, immediately prior to the accident, with a planned destination of West Chicago, Illinois.

The pilot reported that midway through the takeoff roll he noticed that he was "not developing enough ground speed." His airspeed indicator showed 45 knots. He had expected to be at 55 to 60 knots at that point in the takeoff roll. He then realized that he was running out of runway. At 60 to 65 knots and within 100 feet from the end of the runway, the pilot "pulled the nose wheel off of the ground and bounced into the air." The pilot stated that he had to clear a ditch, a road and a fence at the end of the runway. He also said, "the stall alarm was blaring." The pilot brought the nose of the airplane down to level flight. He estimated that he was 10 to 15 feet above ground level. Almost immediately after leveling the nose of the airplane, the left wing dipped and struck the ground. The airplane spun around and slid sideways across some railroad tracks and stopped about 150 feet east of the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the accident site described the airfield the pilot took off from as a grass strip with a significant upslope. The grass was tall enough for him to put his hand in it and it come up to the top of his wrist. The field was also wet from rain which had occurred in the area the day prior to the accident. Inspection of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact abnormalities. Engine controls and flight controls exhibited complete continuity.

A review of the pilot's operating handbook for this airplane provided no guidance for takeoff on wet or unprepared surfaces. The PA-28-236 takeoff ground roll chart for takeoff, with 25 degrees wing flaps on a paved, level, dry runway, and using outside air temperature and pressure altitude exhibited at the time of the accident, indicates a takeoff ground roll of 1000 feet.