- Date
- July 27, 2019, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sparta, TN
- Injuries
- 7 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N12KWPiper PA46
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190727012699A
- Case key
- 99941
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a sign and terrain. Contributing to the need to abort the takeoff was the pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane over its maximum gross takeoff weight.
Findings · 6
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.
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
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, everything appeared "good" until he saw a yellow warning light illuminate. He remembered seeing the letters "hydr…" on the light and became concerned about the landing gear. He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced power and held back pressure on the yoke. He added that he intentionally "let" the airplane go left over grass. As the airplane decelerated, he saw a taxiway sign ahead, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane settled back onto the ground on the taxiway sign. The pilot then pulled the yoke full aft and added right brake, and the airplane impacted a ditch. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector corroborated the pilot's statement. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector reported that, during postaccident examination, no warning lights were noted. The pilot reported that, before the flight, he performed weight and balance calculations. He added that the airplane was more than 300 lbs over the maximum allowable gross weight and was "heavy aft." He reported that he had seven people on board the six-seat airplane; six people were sitting in a seat, and one person was sitting on the floor.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, everything appeared "good" and then he saw a yellow warning light illuminate. He remembered seeing the letters "hydr…" on the light and became concerned about the landing gear. He decided to abort the takeoff and reduced power and held back pressure on the yoke but the airplane became airborne momentarily. He intentionally "let" the airplane go left over the grass. As the airplane decelerated, he saw a taxiway sign ahead, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane settled back onto the ground on the taxiway sign. He pulled the yoke full aft, added right brake, and the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that before the flight he performed weight and balance calculation. He added that the airplane was in excess of 300 lbs. over the maximum gross weight and was "heavy aft." He reported that he had 7 persons on board the 6-seat airplane, with a person sitting in each seat and one additional sitting on the floor. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that evidence and testimony showed that, during the takeoff, the left wing and nose wheel lifted, and the pilot lost directional control. The airplane veered off the runway, collided with a sign, crossed a taxiway and a ditch, and stopped in front of the terminal parking area. He added that, during a postaccident examination, no warning lights were noted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12KW
- Reported as
- Piper PA46 (350P)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4636255
- Built
- 2000
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Allied Moulded Products, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Allied Moulded Products, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SRB · Sparta, TN
- Airport
- SRB · Upper Cumberland Rgnl, runway 22, 6,704 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather
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
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 400 total · 5 in this make and model · 340 as pilot in command · 52 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.31 inHg
- Observed at
- KSRB
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.