# NTSB CHI98LA052: Piper PA-46-350P, N6295Z, Vicksburg, MI, December 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 1997, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Vicksburg, MI - Coordinates: 42.119857, -85.530448 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1199&lon=-85.5304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10795/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA052 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and his failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. A factor was the uneven runway at the grass airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane went over a large hump in the runway during the takeoff roll at about 800 feet from the approach end of the runway. He reported the airplane veered to the left and the 'takeoff was aborted.' The passenger, who was on board to monitor the instruments, reported that the intended flight was a maintenance test flight. The passenger reported that the airplane entered a large dip in the runway about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway. He reported the airplane became 'airborne near stall speed.' The left wing struck the ground. The airplane departed the left side of the runway at about a 45 degree angle and traveled approximately another 1,000 feet before striking a row of small trees before coming to rest. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 1997, at 1330 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N6295Z , operated by Hov-Aire, Inc., sustained substantial damage when it hit trees on the side of the runway during an aborted takeoff. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was departing an unnamed grass airstrip on a local maintenance test flight with Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the destination. The pilot lost control of the aircraft after it hit a dip in the runway. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was departing a private airfield located about seven miles south of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The airplane went over a large hump in the runway during the takeoff roll at about 800 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane veered to the left and the "takeoff was aborted." An Operations Safety Inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration interviewed the passenger who had sat in the right seat of the airplane during the accident. The passenger, who was on board to monitor the instruments, reported that the intended flight was a maintenance test flight. The passenger reported that the airplane entered a large dip in the runway about 1,200 feet from the approach end of the runway. He reported the airplane became "airborne near stall speed." The left wing struck the ground. The airplane departed the left side of the runway at about a 45 degree angle and traveled approximately another 1,000 feet before striking a row of small trees before coming to rest. The examination of the airplane revealed no abnormalities. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6295Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6295Z-2000-03-30), registration cancelled 2000-03-30, S/N 4622026 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46-22026 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Hov-Aire, Inc. - Registered owner: Lakala Aviation, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1997, 939 hours before - Destination: AZO, KALAMAZOO, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,975 total, 227 in this make and model, 7,875 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AZO, 15 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 19971202036959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971202036959A), Dec 2, 1997: Piper PA46350P, Vicksburg, MI, Substantial damage. Lost control hitting a dip in runway after aborting takeoff. (-23) aircraft attempted to depart private grass field at Vicksburg mi. Field was soft, with large… 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.