CHI99FA140

The pilot's father was positioned at the departure end of runway 09. From there, he watched the airplane make its takeoff run. He said that the airplane was about 1,000 feet down the runway when it got into the air. 'The plane went up about 35 to 50 feet [above the ground] and flew down the runway without gaining altitude. It was wobbling and veered off to the left, crashing into the trees, and then exploded.' The airstrip was oriented on a 090-270 magnetic heading. On the 090 degree orientation, the airstrip was 2,500 feet in usable length, with 500 additional feet beyond what was marked as the departure end of the airstrip. At the end of the 3,000 total feet was a heavily-wooded area consisting of 50 to 60 foot high pine trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The PA-28R-201 Pilot's Operating Handbook, Takeoff Performance Tables show that for a 2,750 pound airplane, a temperature of 21 degrees Centigrade, pressure altitude of 1180 feet mean sea level, zero wind, and using 25 degrees of flaps, the takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot barrier is 2,000 feet. For the same conditions, but using a zero flap setting, the takeoff distance needed to clear a 50 foot barrier is 2,750 feet.

History of flight

On May 2, 1999, at 1045 eastern daylight time (edt) a Piper PA- 28R-201, N5274A, operated by a private pilot was destroyed when just after takeoff, the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted into a wooded area. A post-impact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The first pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and passenger in the rear seat, were fatally injured. The cross- country flight originated at a private airstrip located, 2 miles north of Curran, Michigan, and was en route to Detroit, Michigan.

The pilot's father stated that the pilot had flown the airplane to the airstrip for the first time on April 30, 1999. The following day, the pilot took off from the airstrip, with his father-in-law, on a local flight. On his return, the pilot told his father that he was "leery of the trees" which bordered the east end of the airstrip. The pilot told his father that he didn't know by how much he had cleared the trees during the takeoff performed on May 1, 1999. The pilot wanted to know, so he asked his father if he would position himself along the runway and watch his next takeoff, which was the one on which the accident occurred.

The pilot's father, positioned near the departure end and south edge of the runway, watched the pilot taxi to the west end of the runway. He said that he watched the airplane sit there for 4 to 5 minutes while his son went through his checks. Then he watched the airplane make its takeoff run. The father said that the airplane was about 1,000 feet down the runway when it got into the air. "The plane gained approximately 35 feet and flew at that level straight down the center of the runway. The plane veered first to the right and then turned to the left, heading over some of the trees and then crashed and exploded."

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airman Records, the pilot was issued an instrument rating on March 29, 1998. At the time of this issuance, the pilot reported having accumulated 308 total flight hours, 225.6 hours as pilot-in- command, and 173.6 hours in the PA-28R-201.

The pilot's father said that he had flown a lot since receiving his instrument rating. He estimated that the pilot had accumulated approximately 500 total flight hours at the time of the accident. The pilot's father said that the pilot kept his personal logbook in a flight bag which he carried with him in the airplane. No remains of the pilot's personal logbook were located or recovered from the accident site.

The pilot-rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating.

According to FAA Airman Records, the pilot-rated passenger was issued his private pilot certificate on March 14, 1998. At the time of this issuance, the pilot-rated passenger reported having accumulated 103 total flight hours, all in the PA-28R-201.

The remains of pilot-rated passenger's personal logbook were not located or recovered from the accident site.

Aircraft information

The airplane was owned by the pilot's father. It was used by the pilot and his brother for pleasure.

The airplane was manufactured in 1989. The airplane was originally registered as N9182R. The airplane was exported to the Republic of France, and placed in service on August 30, 1990.

The airplane was operated 4 years under the French registration letters F-GIDZ. The airplane was returned to the United States in 1994. The airplane was issued a new registration certificate on April 29, 1995, listing the pilot's father as the owner, and establishing the airplane as N5274A.

The airplane underwent an annual inspection on April 28, 1999. The tachometer time at the annual inspection was recorded as 2,003.8 hours.

Meteorological information

The Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for Alpena, Michigan, 22 miles north-northeast of the Mohammed Ranch, at 1054 est, was clear skies with 10 miles visibility, temperature 68 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius), and winds of 130 degrees magnetic at 9 knots.

Airport information

The airstrip from which the airplane departed was located on a 1,200 acre former hunting camp, which the pilot's father purchased in February, 1999. The pilot's father said that he purchased the property specifically for the airstrip. The airstrip was oriented on a 090-270 magnetic heading. On the 090 degree orientation, the airstrip was 2,500 feet in usable length, with 500 additional feet beyond what was marked as the departure end of the airstrip. At the end of the 3,000 total feet was a heavily-wooded area consisting of 50 to 60 foot high pine trees. The airstrip was 100 feet wide, with a hard turf surface. The grass was approximately 1 inch high.

Wreckage and impact information

The NTSB on scene investigation began on May 3, 1999, at 0830 edt.

The accident site was located in a heavily-wooded area approximately 40 feet south of an east-west running dirt access road on the 1,200 acre property. The accident site was also located abeam the marked departure end of the airstrip, approximately 175 feet north of the airstrip's north edge.

Preceding the airplane's main wreckage, was a stand of several pine trees, approximately 60 feet tall and 12 inches in diameter.

The stand of trees was located 180 feet from the airplane on a 220 degree magnetic heading. Several branches at the tops of these trees were broken in the direction of the airplane's 040 degree magnetic, path through the trees.

Approximately 51 feet from the initial stand of trees on a 040 degree magnetic heading, was a second stand of four pine trees which were severed 25 feet up from their bases. The tops of these trees were fallen along a 040 degree magnetic heading and pointed toward the airplane's final resting spot.

A single 12 inch diameter pine tree, located 87 feet from the initial stand of trees on a 040 degree magnetic heading, was severed 18 feet up from it's base. The top portion of the tree pointed toward the airplane and showed fire damage.

Several other smaller pine trees, along the 040 degree magnetic heading and 120 feet from the initial stand of trees, were severed approximately 20 feet up from their bases. The tops of these trees were at their bases and fell along the 040 degree heading. These trees showed fire damage.

The remains of the airplane rested mostly upright at the base of a 60 foot tall, 16 inch diameter pine tree, at it's west- northwest side. The airplane was oriented on a 020 degree magnetic heading. A 42 inch, horizontally-running gash was found in the tree, 4 feet up from the tree's base, on it's west- northwest side. The gash was 13 inches wide and 4 inches deep. The tree was charred.

The main wreckage consisted of the propeller, engine, remains of the cabin, both wings, fuselage, and empennage.

The airplane's engine and propeller rested mostly inverted on the north side of the pine tree. The engine was charred and melted. The engine's sump and right aft accessories were melted and consumed. The propeller remained attached to the flange and crankshaft. The propeller showed torsional bending, chordwise scratching, and tip curling. The propeller spinner was melted and consumed. The airplane's upper cowling was broken open and melted. The lower cowling was melted and consumed. The engine firewall was bent aft and charred. The airplane's nose wheel was charred. The tire and gear doors were consumed. The airplane's cabin rested upright, beginning at the northwest base of the pine tree. It was oriented west-southwest along a 200 magnetic heading. The cabin, to include the lower instrument panel, pilot and passenger seats,