FTW97LA235

During the takeoff roll in a field, the airplane hit a dirt terrace and turned toward a fence. The airplane struck the fence, and the left wing separated from the fuselage. According to the pilot, he walked the field prior to attempting the takeoff and calculated the takeoff distance. Both the pilot and his passenger reported that the takeoff was aborted when the airplane did not accelerate fast enough. Two witnesses reported that the takeoff was not aborted until the airplane hit the terrace.

On June 25, 1997, at 1530 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201 airplane, N8326S, was substantially damaged when it collided with a fence during an aborted takeoff near Whitewright, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Centerline Aviation, Inc., of Addison, Texas. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the operator, on June 23, 1997, the airplane made a forced landing in a field approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Whitewright following a loss of engine power. On June 25, two mechanics employed by the operator drove to the site and replaced a sheared bolt on the airplane's throttle cable.

The pilot reported that after the repair was completed, he "checked all performance charts required including weight and balance, take-off distance, density altitude, walked the field twice and did a preflight inspection." He then taxied to the "northwest corner of the field," completed a run-up, and initiated a short field takeoff "as described by the checklist." The airplane "didn't accelerate fast enough" so he aborted the takeoff and applied the brakes, "but braking action was poor." As the airplane continued to roll, it impacted a terrace in the field which "got [it] airborne shortly and turned [it] toward a fence." The airplane impacted the fence, and the left wing separated from the fuselage.

The passenger reported the same sequence of events as the pilot and stated that the takeoff was aborted when the pilot "noticed that the rolling [was] not satisfactory." According to the two mechanics who witnessed the accident, the takeoff was not aborted until the airplane hit the terrace.