# NTSB NYC03IA030: Piper PA-601P, N141AJ, Manassas, VA, December 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2002, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Manassas, VA - Coordinates: 38.721389, -77.515556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7214&lon=-77.5156&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56214 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03IA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56214/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03IA030 ## Probable cause The pilot' failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - grass - terrain condition - wet ## Analysis The pilot taxied onto the runway, and once cleared for takeoff, he advanced the throttles. He used differential braking to maintain runway alignment until reaching 40 knots of indicated airspeed (KIAS), and then switched to the rudder. Approximately 65 KIAS, the pilot felt a shudder that seemed to come from the wheels, which he initially thought was caused by standing water on the runway. Within a second, he felt a second shudder, and started to have directional control problems. Because the airplane was "...well below rotation speed," he aborted the takeoff. He closed both throttles, and within 2 seconds, the airplane yawed left and departed the runway. On rain-soaked sod, the airplane slid approximately 1,000 feet before coming to a stop. The airplane received minor damage during the accident sequence and substantial damage during recovery. Visibility was 3 miles in rain, and the runway had standing water on it. Examination of the engines and airframe revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2002, about 1830 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-601P, N141AJ, sustained minor damage during takeoff at the Manassas Regional Airport (HEF), Manassas, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he preflighted the airplane, identified no relevant anomalies, boarded, and then taxied to runway 34R. Once cleared for takeoff, he held the brakes, and advanced the throttles to 30 inches of manifold pressure. He confirmed the oil pressure and fuel flow indications for both engines were correct, and matched. He then advanced the throttles to 42 inches of manifold pressure, takeoff power, and initiated the takeoff roll. He used differential braking to maintain runway alignment until reaching 40 knots of indicated airspeed (KIAS), and then transitioned to the rudder. Approximately 65 KIAS, the pilot felt a shudder that seemed to come from the wheels, which he initially thought was caused by standing water on the runway. Within a second, he felt a second shudder, and started to have directional control problems. Because the airplane was "...well below rotation speed," he aborted the takeoff. He closed both throttles, and within 2 seconds, the airplane yawed left and departed the runway. On rain-soaked sod, the airplane slid approximately 1,000 feet before coming to a stop in a ditch approximately 300 feet to the left of the runway. A weather observation taken at the airport about 25 minutes after the accident, recorded the wind as 360 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 3 miles, temperature 36 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.75 inches of mercury. In addition, the pilot reported it had snowed 2 days before, and that it had rained steadily on the day of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, examination of the engines and airframe revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions. In addition, the airplane sustained minor damage during the accident sequence and substantial damage during recovery. ## Aircraft - Registration: N141AJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-601P - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P-0680-7963320 - Airframe hours: 3471.6 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AA1A5 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-AA1A5 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan M. Jacobson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2002, 50 hours before - Departed: HEF, Manassas, VA - Destination: PVG, Norfolk, VA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HEF, Manassas Region, runway 34, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 30, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,593 total, 405 in this make and model, 3,403 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: HEF ## 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 20021213037299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021213037299A), Dec 13, 2002: Piper PA60601P, Manassas, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated, he started takeoff roll and at 1000 foot mark aircraft started veering to the left, he heard two thumps prior to aircraft veering, thought… 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.