# NTSB MIA91LA007: Piper PA-28-181, N8634C, Rolling Fork, MS, October 5, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1990, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Rolling Fork, MS
- Location: 32.9073° N, 90.8769° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rolling Fork, MS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9073&lon=-90.8769&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32782
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32782/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA007

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN WINGTIP CLEARANCE WITH TALL GRASS AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE GROUND ROLL.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - ground
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - ditch
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A PVT ARPT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON THE GRASS NEXT TO THE CONCRETE/ASPHALT RWY BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHARP EDGE AT THE BEGINNING OF IT & THE RWY CONTAINED RUTS & LOOSE SAND PILES. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE OBSERVED A HIGH ROW OF WEEDS NEXT TO THE GRASS BUT DID NOT OBSERVE A DITCH NEXT TO THE TALL WEEDS. AFTER APPLYING POWER HE RELEASED THE BRAKES & WHILE PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE, FELT THE ACFT PULL TO THE RT. HE APPLIED LT RUDDER TO CORRECT THEN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RT & TRAVELLED INTO A DITCH. THE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED UNHARMED. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE ARPT, THE RWY DID NOT CONTAIN RUTS AS DESCRIBED BY THE PLT BUT THE GRASS EXTENSION BEFORE THE RWY WAS SOFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8634C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8634C-1991-02-08), registration cancelled 1991-02-08, S/N 287690154 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7690154
- Airframe hours: 1599
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Snyder, Norman L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 1990, 24 hours before
- Destination: LWV, LAWRENCEVILLE, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 27M, Nick'S Flying Service, runway 35, 3,400 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,791 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,605 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GLH, 35 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 19901005044179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901005044179A), Oct 5, 1990: Piper PA28181, Rolling Fork, MS, Substantial damage. Tried to depart on soft sloping sod adjacent to paved runway. Aborted as aircraft pulled downslope and hit a ditch.

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.

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