- Date
- March 17, 1985, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Athens, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N15131Piper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850317007829A
- Case key
- 21700
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 acft contacted trees and descended uncontrolled into the terrain during an initial takeoff climb. The takeoff was made on a 1830 ft sod strip which is bordered on the departure end by trees. The plt stated he used full throttle (2400-2450 RPM) but only achieved 60-63 mph. He continued to report that once becoming airborne, the acft would not maintain alt and an uncontrolled descent was entered. The left wing contacted trees after which the acft collided with the terrain. The plt reported the stall warning came on early in the takeoff but he corrected the situation by lowering the nose.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N15131
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 287225582
- Airframe hours
- 3,859
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald W. Mckensie
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 25, 1984 · 52 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 313 total · 249 in this make and model · 313 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.