DFW08LA176

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-32RT-300T · Cookson, OK · June 29, 2008

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 29, 2008, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Cookson, OK
Injuries
3 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N132RRPiper PA-32RT-300T
Defining event
Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 29, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20080629857869A
Case key
68393

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedPiper PA-32RT-300T: 4 casesAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: tree(s)Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensatePiper PA-32RT-300T: 1 caseAll aircraft: 933 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

Moments after the single-engine airplane became airborne, the pilot observed a partial loss of engine power. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted into trees beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane came to rest nose pointing skyward in a tree. There was no post crash fire and all three occupants were able to exit the airplane unassisted. The onsite investigation revealed that the propeller had sliced into a tree in a manner consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. There were no reported abnormalities with the flight controls. The reason for the reported partial loss of engine power was not determined.

Factual narrative

On June 29, 2008, about 1700 central daylight time, a single-engine Piper PA-32RT-300T airplane, N132RR, was substantially damaged during impact with trees during takeoff from the Snake Creek Wilderness Airport (OK06), Cookson, Oklahoma. The private pilot and the two occupants sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Lance Land Services LLC., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 132-nautical mile cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Wiley Post Airport (PWA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to the pilot, moments after the airplane became airborne, he observed a partial loss of engine power. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted into trees beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane came to rest nose pointing skyward in a tree. There was no post crash fire and all three occupants were able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's wings and fuselage sustained structural damage during the impact. The investigation further revealed that the propeller had sliced into a tree in a manner consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. There were no reported abnormalities with the flight controls. The reason for the reported partial loss of engine power was not determined. At 1653, the automated weather observing system at the Davis Field Airport (MKO), Muskogee, Oklahoma, located 20 nautical miles west from the site of the accident, reported wind from 340 degrees at 11 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear of clouds, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.13 inches of Mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N132RR
Reported as
Piper PA-32RT-300T
Category
Airplane
Serial number
32R-7987098
Airframe hours
2,127
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Lance Land Services LLC
Registered owner
Lance Land Services LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 1, 2008
Departed
OK06 · Cookson, OK
Destination
PWA · Oklahoma City, OK
Airport
OK06 · Snake Creek Wilderness, runway 03, 2,840 × 50 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
42
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 13, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
100 total · 27 in this make and model · 65 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.12 inHg
Observed at
MKO, 20 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.