# NTSB FTW93LA164: Piper PA-25-151, N6129Z, Calera, OK, May 24, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 24, 1993, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Calera, OK
- Coordinates: 33.930187, -96.429588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9302&lon=-96.4296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18755
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18755/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA164

## Probable cause

AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE EXCEEDED AND TAKEOFF NOT ABORTED. FACTORS WERE THE SOFT WET TURF RUNWAY

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, takeoff - roll/run
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - fence post

## Analysis

A NEWLY CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKE OFF FROM A SOFT WET 2400 FOOT TURF STRIP THAT RAN UPHILL WITH THE AIRPLANE'S HOPPER FULL OF WATER. THE AIRPLANE NEVER BECAME AIRBORNE AND RAN THROUGH A FENCE

## Factual narrative

On May 24, 1993, at approximately 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA 25 151, sustained substantial during takeoff from a private airstrip near Calera, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot did not sustain injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal flight.

During a telephone interview conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector with the pilot and in a written statement, the following information was provided. The pilot ran out of available runway during the takeoff roll and the airplane impacted fence wires and posts at the departure end of the runway. Conditions for the 2400 foot runway were wet and soft turf that traversed up hill. A commercial rating had recently been obtained by the pilot and he had loaded the airplane hopper with water for a practice aerial application flight. According to the performance charts this placed the airplane at maximum gross weight. He further reported that he did not attempt to abort the takeoff.

The airplane was released to the owner.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6129Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6129Z-1997-08-21), registration cancelled 1997-08-21, S/N 25151 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25) (registry code 7102502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-151
- Airframe hours: 3200
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sherrills Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Sherrills Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1993, 50 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Boatner, runway 18, 2,400 × 40 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 290 total, 25 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19930524015079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930524015079A), May 24, 1993: Piper PA25150, Calera, OK, Substantial damage. Failed to liftoff from wet soft uphill grass strip and failed to abort. Went through fence. Gross weight water load

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.