- Date
- June 7, 1999, 19:45 local (Jun 8, 1999, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Traer, IA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4525RPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990607044979A
- Case key
- 46514
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 not maintaining proper runway alignment during the aborted takeoff, and the airport personnel not maintaining the runway. Factors were rough terrain and a dirt bank.
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
During an aborted takeoff, the airplane impacted a dirt pile and received substantial damage. The pilot said on the previous landing the runway was rough, so he elected to use a soft field takeoff technique. He said that the airplane did not seem to accelerate and he decided to abort the takeoff when the airplane reached 60 MPH. He said that the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway and during the rollout, he was unable to maneuver to avoid impacting a mound of dirt. Subsequent to the accident an examination of the runway found a dirt mound approximately 10 feet in diameter and 3 feet high which extended into the runway about 5 feet. After it was brought to the attention of airport management, the dirt mound was removed.
Factual narrative
On June 7, 1999, at 1945 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4525R, registered to a corporation, sustained substantial damage, during an attempted aborted takeoff from runway 17 (2,555' X 100', dry/turf), near Traer, Iowa. The private pilot reported minor injuries, while his passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with a stated destination of Marshalltown, Iowa.
In his written report the pilot said he had accumulated a total of 20 hours in this make and model of airplane. He said that time was accumulated in the preceding 90 days. The pilot said that he initiated a "short field" takeoff with 10 degrees of flap because the turf runway was "rough.". He said that he held the nosewheel off the ground, but the airplane only accelerated to 60 MPH bouncing on the rough runway. He said he then tried to abort the takeoff; however, the airplane drifted to the right of the runway and impacted a 3' X 10' pile of dirt which was partially on the runway. He said that if the pile of dirt had not been on the runway the airplane would have come to a stop on the remaining runway.
Subsequent to the accident, an inspection of the airport and runway found a pile of dirt alongside the runway, which measured about 10 feet in diameter, and 3 feet high. The pile of dirt extended into the travel portion of the runway about 5'. A check of the FAA "Airport/Facility Directory revealed no warning for obstructions on the runway. The airport management was notified and removed and/or leveled the dirt pile.
The pilot reported the local wind at the time of the accident to be 180 to 200 degrees at 4 knots.
Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-existing mechanical anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4525R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-21228
- Airframe hours
- 2,013
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Freiberg Insudtries, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 13, 1999 · 18 hours before
- Departed
- 8C6
- Destination
- MIW · Marshalltown, IA
- Airport
- 8C6 · Traer Municipal, runway 17, 2,555 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 69 total · 20 in this make and model · 69 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ALO, 22 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.