# NTSB MIA90LA173: Piper PA-32RT-300, N289PC, Hattiesburg, MS, August 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1990, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Hattiesburg, MS
- Coordinates: 31.310832, -89.3003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3108&lon=-89.3003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32694
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32694/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA173

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED PRIOR TO LIFTOFF DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE PILOT THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO DELAYED IN HIS DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - grass

## Analysis

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF AND NOTED AT LIFTOFF THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS YAWING TO THE LEFT AND HIS ATTEMPTS TO USE RIGHT RUDDER IMPUTS WERE INEFFECTIVE. HE LET THE AIRPLANE DRIFT 400 FEET TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY WITH THE GEAR STILL DOWN AND THEN REDUCED POWER AND CRASHED. NO FAILURES OR MIS-RIGGING OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N289PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N289PC-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 32R-7985093, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300 (PA-32RT-30)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7985093
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry W. Biggs
- Registered owner: Metro Shoals Amb Serv. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: HBG, HATTIESBURG, MS
- Destination: MSL, MUSCLE SHOALS, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HBG, Bobby L. Chain, runway 13, 6,219 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,044 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,026 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAN, 37 nm away

## 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 19900824036319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900824036319A), Aug 24, 1990: Piper PA32RT300, Hattiesburg, MS, Substantial damage. Aircraft yawed to left on liftoff. Aborted takeoff and impacted wing down off side runway.

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.