# NTSB DEN99LA132: Piper PA-28-180, N7521W, Edgewood, NM, July 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1999, 08:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Edgewood, NM - Coordinates: 35.080108, -106.170722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0801&lon=-106.1707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46922/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive rotation during takeoff, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush. Factors were the pilot's lack of recent flight experience, and the high density altitude.. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - rotation - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - object - runway light - terrain condition - berm - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot was departing the runway with the intention of performing touch and go landings. He stated that during takeoff, he rotated the airplane at a speed of 65 mph. He looked outside of the cockpit and noticed that the airplane was only 15 ft. above the runway. He verified that the airspeed indicated 65 mph. He leveled the nose of the airplane, and it impacted the runway. He hit his head against the panel, then felt a second impact. That was the last memory the pilot had regarding the accident. Several witnesses observed the airplane rotating at a very high angle of attack. One witness noted that the nose appeared to be pitched up at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees. The witnesses observed the airplane veer to the north side of the runway, then realign with the runway, and drift right again. The aircraft impacted several landing lights off the north side of the runway, then struck a dirt berm, followed by a barb-wire fence. At the time of the accident, the pilot had flown a total of 2.1 hours within the past 90 days, and had accumulated a total of 4.5 hours of flight time in the PA-28. Density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 8,891 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 1999, approximately 0820 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7521W, was substantially damaged when it collided with objects and terrain during takeoff from Sandia Airpark Estates East, Edgewood, New Mexico. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was departing runway 27 with the intention of performing touch and go landings. During takeoff, he rotated the airplane at a speed of 65 miles per hour (mph), the normal rotation speed in a PA-28. He looked outside of the cockpit and noticed that he was only 15 feet above the runway. He checked the airspeed indicator, and it indicted 65 mph. He stated that "upon leveling the nose of the airplane, the plane hit the runway and my head hit the forward panel dazing me. I felt the second impact and as the plane hit the runway a second time and do not remember anything else about the accident." According to one witness, he observed the aircraft's departure and noted that the airplane rotated approximately 2,000 feet down the runway. He stated that "the nose came up very fast and very high." He estimated the nose to be pitched up at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees, and the tail to be between 8 inches to 1 foot above the runway. He stated that the airplane appeared to rotate so quickly that he thought the tail was going to strike the runway. Another witness observed the airplane during departure "in an unusually nose-high attitude for takeoff." Another witness who was waiting to depart runway 27 stated that at the time, the winds were out of the west at several knots. He noted that the airplane "seemed to take longer than usual... to build up speed." When it was approximately mid-field down the runway, he observed the aircraft "in an extreme nose-high attitude with the main wheels still on the ground." The airplane veered to the north side of the runway, then realigned with the runway, and then drifted right again. He stated that the aircraft appeared to remain in a nose high attitude throughout the attempted takeoff, and never gave an indication that the takeoff was going to be aborted. He saw the aircraft impact several landing lights off the north side of the runway, and it continued westward in a nose-high attitude until striking a dirt berm at the west end of the runway. It then struck a barb-wire fence and briefly became airborne. He stated that the airplane arched 10 to 12 feet into the air and then fell nose-low to the ground. At the time of the accident, the pilot had flown a total of 2.1 hours within the past 90 days and 4.5 hours within the past 180 days, all of which was performed in the Piper PA-28. He had accumulated a total of 4.5 hours of flight time in make and model of the accident aircraft. Given the existing weather conditions at Albuquerque, located 22 nm to the west, density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 8,891 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7521W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7521W-2004-05-04), registration cancelled 2004-05-04, S/N 28-1439, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-1439 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wayne E. Huyler - Registered owner: Jon T. Daffer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 1999, 37 hours before - Departed: NM51, NM - Airport: NM51, Sandia Airpark Estates, runway 27, 5,280 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 5 in this make and model, 82 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990731018299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990731018299A), Jul 31, 1999: Piper PA28180, Edgewood, NM, Substantial damage. (.19)On July 31, 1999, approximately 0820 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7521W, was substantially damaged following a in-flight collision with an… ## Other investigations on N7521W (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK64X2230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2230), Jun 11, 1964: Piper PA28 (N7521W), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage 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.