- Date
- March 27, 1999, 12:44 local (17:44 UTC)
- Place
- Marquette, MI
- Injuries
- 6 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N66BHPiper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 12, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990327002759A
- Case key
- 45976
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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind conditions and the taxiway sign which the airplane contacted.
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 takeoff was being conducted on runway 26 with local winds from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported the airplane veered off the left side of the runway during the takeoff roll, just prior to liftoff. He stated he reduced the throttle at which time he saw a taxiway sign in front of him so he advanced the throttle. He stated that the airplane cleared this sign, but contacted another sign. He stated he pulled the power back and the main landing gear caught in the snow spinning the airplane around.
Factual narrative
On March 27, 1999, at 1244 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32- 300, N66BH, operated by a private pilot collided with a taxiway sign following a loss of directional control while takeoff off from the Marquette County Airport, Marquette, Michigan. The private pilot and five passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with a planned destination of Pellston, Michigan.
The takeoff was being conducted on runway 26 (6,500'x150'). The local winds reported eight minutes after the accident were from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported the airplane veered off the left side of the runway during the takeoff roll, just prior to liftoff. He stated he reduced the throttle at which time he saw a taxiway sign in front of him so he advanced the throttle. He stated that the airplane cleared this sign, but contacted another sign. He stated he pulled the power back and the main landing gear caught in the snow spinning the airplane around.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66BH
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7940067
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Scott Keoman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1999 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- MQT
- Destination
- PLN · Pellston, MI
- Airport
- MQT · Marquette County, runway 26, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 29
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 135 total · 53 in this make and model · 70 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MQT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.