FTW95LA260

While on a VFR cross country flight, the pilot made an unplanned stop at a private airport so a passenger could use facilities. The runway surface was hard packed dirt bordered by grass and also served as the community golf course. On takeoff roll, the pilot used the grass area beside the runway and struck a ditch. The airport elevation was 5,888 feet MSL, and the temperature was 90 degrees fahrenheit resulting in a density altitude of approximately 9,300 feet. According to calculations done following the accident, the aircraft was 216 pounds over allowable gross weight for the runway used due to field length limits.

On June 26, 1995, at 1350 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 200, N3032R, sustained substantial damage during takeoff roll at a private airstrip near Mimbres, New Mexico. The pilot and one passenger received no injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was on file for this personal flight from Las Vegas, New Mexico, to Nogales, Mexico.

According to the pilot, he made an unscheduled stop due to his daughter's physiological need. He said he spotted the uncharted airstrip, circled several times and landed at 1340.

A pilot witness from the County Sheriff's Department said the aircraft was attempting to takeoff from the private airstrip, which is also the community golf course. He said the pilot was not using the dirt runway but the softer grass area beside the runway. The witness stated the airstrip elevation is about 5,888 feet above mean seal level (msl), is oriented north and south, and is about 4,500 feet in length. He said the aircraft was attempting takeoff to the south with the wind being from 280 degrees at 12 to 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots and a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. According to both the pilot and witness, the aircraft encountered a ditch during the takeoff roll, folded the nose landing gear and collapsed the right main landing gear.

Calculated density altitude, based on a temperature of 90 degrees, was approximately 9,300 feet msl.

The FAA inspector who went to the scene weighed the contents of the aircraft. As a result, it was calculated, due to the airport and environmental conditions, that the aircraft was 216 pounds over maximum gross takeoff weight for that airport based on field length.

According to the pilot, he estimated the temperature to be 80 degrees, and the wind to be from 180 degrees at 8 knots. In addition, the pilot thought he was taking off to the east rather than to the south.