# NTSB NYC95LA117: Piper PA-28-181, N43786, Louisville, KY, May 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 1995, 16:56 local (20:56 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Location: 38.2280° N, 85.6637° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BOWMAN FLD (LOU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2280&lon=-85.6637&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38965 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38965/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate planning which resulted in his failure to attain adequate airspeed for takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command - abort - initiated, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - fence ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS DETERMINED TO BE 2522.3 LBS. WITH C.G. OF 93 INCHES. HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO '55 KNOTS.' WHEN HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE THE AIRPLANE ROTATED, BUT DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF. HE 'THROTTLED BACK, APPLIED BRAKES AND PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE. THE AIRPLANE DECELERATED, BUT DID NOT STOP. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE INTERSECTING RUNWAY, ONTO THE GRASS, STRUCK THE AIRPORT SECURITY FENCE AND STOPPED. THE FAA INSPECTOR WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT, THE 'CORRECTED TOTAL WEIGHT' AT TAKEOFF WAS 2,575 POUNDS, AND THE MAXIMUM CERTIFIED WEIGHT FOR TAKEOFF WAS '2,550' POUNDS. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 1995, about 1656 eastern daylight time, a Piper, PA-28-181, N43786, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff, from Bowman Field Airport, Louisville, Kentucky. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: Weight and balance was determined to be 2522.3 lbs. with C.G. of 93 inches)...I began takeoff roll on Runway 32 and the aircraft accelerated to 55 knots. I pulled back on the yoke with what I considered normal back pressure and the aircraft rotated...at that point the aircraft stopped accelerating. I decided to abort the take off. I throttled back, applied brakes and pulled back on the yoke. The aircraft decelerated but not at the rate I expected for full braking. The aircraft crossed...Runway 14 and onto the grass...struck the airport security fence and stopped... According to the FAA Inspector's statement the "corrected total weight" at takeoff was 2,575 pounds, and the maximum certified weight for takeoff was "2,550" pounds. The FAA Inspector wrote: It is the opinion of this inspector that the over gross weight of this aircraft and the inexperience of the low time pilot to operate this aircraft in a HEAVY configuration led to the aborted takeoff and subsequent accident...inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any mechanical malfunction. The Louisville (LOU) 1658 weather observation was; 3000 scattered, visibility 10 miles, temperature 75 degrees F, dew point 41 degrees F, wind 030 degrees, 9 knots, altimeter 29.88 inches Hg. At the time of the accident the pilot's total flight hours was 116, all in this make and model airplane, and 52 hours as pilot- in-command. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43786](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43786-2012-11-21), registration cancelled 2012-11-21, S/N 28-7890015, built 1977 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7890015 - Airframe hours: 3758 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darren Piemont - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1994, 238 hours before - Destination: K24, JAMESTOWN, KY - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field, runway 32, 3,539 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 116 total, 116 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LOU ## 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 19950519012169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950519012169A), May 19, 1995: Piper PA28181, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. Unable accelerate after liftoff. Aborted. Overran into fence. Was over gross weight. 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.