# NTSB SEA93LA183: Piper PA-28-235, N9148, Enumclaw, WA, August 24, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 1993, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Enumclaw, WA - Coordinates: 47.100421, -121.599571 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1004&lon=-121.5996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41754/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA183 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE A WET, DOWNHILL, GRASS RUNWAY DURING THE ABORT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT, WHO HAD JUST LIFTED OFF A SECOND TIME DURING AN UPHILL TAKEOFF, ELECTED TO ABORT BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT SURE THAT SHE WOULD CLEAR THE TREES OFF THE END OF THE GRASS/TURF PRIVATE STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AFTER IT HAD PASSED THE MID-POINT OF THE RUNWAY, AND BECAUSE BOTH RUNWAY ENDS ARE 12 TO 16 FEET LOWER THAN THE MID-POINT, THE PILOT WAS THEN TRYING TO STOP ON A WET, DOWN-SLOPING, GRASS RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT SLID OF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, CROSSED A ROAD, IMPACTED VEGETATION, AND CAUGHT FIRE. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 1993, at approximately 1250 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Piper PA-28-235, N9148, collided with the terrain after running off the end of the runway at Evergreen Sky Ranch, Enumclaw, Washington. The FAA certificated private pilot and one of her passengers were not injured. The other passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. The personal pleasure flight, which was departing in visual meteorological conditions, was not on a flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT transmission. The pilot, who was attempting a takeoff on the uphill portion of a wet grassy airstrip, said that the aircraft settled back to the runway after liftoff. The aircraft became airborne a second time, but the pilot elected to abort the takeoff because she sensed the aircraft was not climbing as quickly as she had expected, and she was not sure that it would clear the trees off the end of the runway. During her attempt to stop on the remaining runway, the aircraft exited the end of the runway, crossed a road, impacted nearby vegetation, and caught fire. The private airstrip from which the pilot was attempting to depart is approximately 15 feet higher at its mid-point than at either end, and therefore necessitates an uphill takeoff from either direction. The aircraft did not touch down during the abort until after passing this mid-point "crown," and therefore the pilot was attempting to stop on the downhill portion of the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9148 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10772 - Airframe hours: 2276 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hartley, Daniel B. & Marian B - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1993, 3 hours before - Airport: 51WA, Evergreen Sky Ranch, runway 18, 2,650 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 583 total, 182 in this make and model, 408 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots, gusting 11 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19930824030269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930824030269A), Aug 24, 1993: Piper PA28235, Black Diamond, WA, Destroyed. Taking off uphill acceleration poor aborted on downhill portion runway crown. Ran off end. Impacted and burned. 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.