- Date
- August 28, 2002, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Big Creek, ID
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5781FPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Boise FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020828023309A
- Case key
- 55595
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff. Factors include high density altitude, variable winds, and a ditch near the point where the aircraft departed the side of the runway.
Analysis
During a high density altitude takeoff, just as the aircraft's main gear were lifting off the runway, the aircraft dropped firmly back onto the runway surface. At that point, the pilot looked at the windsock at the far end of the runway and saw that it indicated a tailwind. He therefore elected to abort the takeoff, but failed to maintain adequate directional control of the aircraft during its deceleration. The aircraft therefore departed the left side of the runway, whereupon the nose gear and right main gear entered a nearby drainage ditch, which allowed the right wing to impact the terrain and sustain substantial damage.
Factual narrative
On August 28, 2002, approximately 1650 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5781F, impacted the terrain during an aborted takeoff from Big Creek Airport, Big Creek Lodge, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was departing for McCall, Idaho, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, just as the main gear were lifting off, the aircraft seemed to lose lift and "dropped" back onto the runway surface. At that point, the pilot looked at the windsock at the far end of the runway and determined that it was indicating a tailwind. He therefore made the decision to abort, but as he tried to bring the aircraft to a stop, he was unable to maintain directional control and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft's nose gear and right main gear entered a nearby drainage ditch, thus allowing the right wing to impact the terrain and sustain substantial damage.
Based on the ambient conditions of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and an altimeter setting of 30.20 inches of mercury, it was determined that the density altitude at the time of the attempted takeoff was approximately 7,550 feet.
According to the pilot, the engine seemed to be producing "peak power," and there were no indications that there had been any problem with the engine or the aircraft's systems.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5781F
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-25088
- Airframe hours
- 4,665
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kevin D. Murray
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 18, 2002 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- U60 · Big Creek, ID
- Destination
- MYL · McCall, ID
- Airport
- U60 · Big Creek, runway 01, 3,550 × 110 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- August 12, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 343 total · 200 in this make and model · 291 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.