# NTSB MIA99LA238: Piper PA-28-140, N6685J, Jackson, AL, August 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 1999, 10:26 local (15:26 UTC) - Place: Jackson, AL - Coordinates: 31.530672, -87.890342 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5307&lon=-87.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47170/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA238 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, which resulted in taking off with the airplane's maximum gross weight exceeded, and subsequent impact with trees. Factors in this accident were high temperatures and an in-flight encounter with a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - performance data - not used, pilot in command - weather condition - temperature,high (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot he calculated the weight for this flight and came up with total weight of '...860 pounds, 5.5 pound over weight limit.' He said he '...did a complete check off on everything in the cockpit, and a static run-up only produced 2400 RPM's instead of 2500 RPM's the engine usually produced.' He rotated the airplane at 80 mph, it climbed to about 100 to 150 feet and entered 'some turbulence, at this time it felt like something was pushing the airplane to the ground...[he] decided the airplane was not going to climb over the trees and started turning off the fuel selector switch, the master switch, and we went into the trees.' According to the FAA inspector's statement, the airplane was at '...max gross weight at takeoff and encountered a down draft.' The stall warning light came on, the pilot lowered the nose to prevent a stall, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and hit trees at end of runway. The reported temperature in the area about the time of the accident was about 90 degrees F. The wind were variable at 4 knots. The calculated density altitude was 2332 feet. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 1999, about 1026 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6685J, owned by an individual, collided with trees after taking off from the Jackson Airport, Jackson, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot and commercial-rated pilot/passenger reported no injuries. Two other passengers reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time, and was en route to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to the pilot's statement, "...calculating the distance, time, and fuel consumption, I decided 18 gallons of fuel would be needed. Thinking I had 20 gallons of fuel I calculated the weight...120 pounds [fuel]...200 pounds [pilot]...160 pounds [male passenger]...170 pounds [male passenger]...190 pounds [male passenger]...total gross weight for the airplane was 864.50 pounds...did a complete pre-flight check of the airplane...found the airplane had twenty-three to twenty-five gallons of fuel...recalculating the weight in my head I decided that it was 860 pounds, 5.5 pound over weight limit. Thinking back, only three weeks before I had taken off with the same amount of weight...I did a complete check off on everything in the cockpit, and a static run-up only produced 2400 RPM's instead of 2500 RPM's the engine usually produced. After holding the airplane in the static run-up...I released the toe brakes and down the runway we went. Rotating the airplane at 80 MPH, it climbed to about 100 to 150 feet and entered some turbulence, at this time it felt like something was pushing the airplane to the ground...I decided the airplane was not going to climb over the trees and [I] started turning off the fuel selector switch, the master switch, and we went into the trees." According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...aircraft at max gross weight, took off and at approximate 250 feet, aircraft encountered a down draft, stall warning light came on, pilot lowered nose to prevent stall. Aircraft was unable to maintain altitude and hit trees at end of runway." The reported temperature in the area about the time of the accident was about 90 degrees F. The winds were variable at 4 knots. The calculated density altitude was 2332 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6685J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6685J-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 28-24375, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-24375 - Airframe hours: 4833 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert L. Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1999 - Departed: 4R3 - Destination: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA - Airport: 4R3, William Stewart ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 95 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 50 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 19990825028509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990825028509A), Aug 25, 1999: Piper PA28140, Jackson, AL, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 25, 1999, about 1026 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6685J, owned by an individual, collided with a tree after taking off from the… ## Other investigations on N6685J (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX71DUG67](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71DUG67), Apr 3, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N6685J), Rialto, CA, substantial damage 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.