# NTSB SEA93LA182: Piper PA-24, N8267P, Ilwaco, WA, August 22, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 1993, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Ilwaco, WA - Coordinates: 46.309188, -123.989784 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3092&lon=-123.9898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41753/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA182 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF WITH THE AIRCRAFT OVER GROSS WEIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded ## Analysis THE PILOT, WHO DID NOT PERFORM WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF IN AN AIRCRAFT THAT WAS OVER THE ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF TWICE, BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT. HIS STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED BECAUSE HE HAD TROUBLE BRINGING THE VERNIER TYPE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT STEERED IT ONTO A NEARBY ROAD, BUT HE IMPACTED A TREE WHILE AVOIDING AN ONCOMING AUTO. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 1993, at approximately 1145 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Piper PA-24-180, N8267P, impacted trees during an attempted aborted takeoff at Ilwaco Airport, Ilwaco, Washington. The FAA certificated private pilot and his three passengers where not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft, which was operating in visual meteorological conditions, was departing on a personal pleasure flight when the accident occurred. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene, the pilot attempted a takeoff on the 2,000 foot long strip in an aircraft that was approximately 100 pounds over maximum allowable gross weight. According to the pilot, the aircraft lifted off, settled back to the runway, and lifted off again. At that point he decided to abort, but was unable to get the vernier type throttle to the idle position as quickly as he wanted, and the aircraft ran off the end of the runway. While decelerating, he turned the aircraft down a nearby road, but impacted a tree while attempting to avoid an oncoming auto. In a post-accident phone interview, an FAA inspector asked the pilot if he had performed a weight and balance calculation prior to the attempted takeoff, and the pilot answered that he had not done so. In response to further questioning, the pilot told the inspector that at the time of the accident, he did not know the actual empty weight nor allowable gross weight for the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8267P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8267P-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 24-3520, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (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: 24-3520 - Airframe hours: 1751 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aircraft Equipment Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 1993, 26 hours before - Airport: WA27, Ilwaco Landing Strip, runway 10, 2,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 295 total, 48 in this make and model, 226 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19930822030089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930822030089A), Aug 22, 1993: Piper PA24180, Ilwaco, WA, Substantial damage. Unable to leave ground effect on takeoff. Aborted late. Hit tree off airport. Over gross and unable compute 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.