# NTSB SEA95LA207: Piper PA-28-140, N8261N, Mt Pleasant, UT, September 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1995, 20:20 local (Sep 4, 1995, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Mt Pleasant, UT - Coordinates: 39.550579, -111.39009 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5506&lon=-111.3901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42242 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42242/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA207 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING CLIMBOUT. FACTORS INCLUDE WIND SHEAR AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT LOADED HIS AIRCRAFT TO WITHIN 50 POUNDS OF GROSS WEIGHT AND ATTEMPTED A SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE AT A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 8000 FEET. AFTER LIFT-OFF HE RETRACTED THE FLAPS FROM 25 DEGREES TO 10 DEGREES AND THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO ACCELERATE, BUT NOTED THAT HIS AIRSPEED HAD DECAYED ABOUT 15 MPH, AND THE STALL WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. HE LOWERED THE NOSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN AIRSPEED OR RECOVER FROM AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. HE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO AVOID SOME OBSTACLES AND TERRAIN, BUT CRASHED IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT HE HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO WIND SHEAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 1995, approximately 2020 mountain daylight time, N8261N, a Piper PA-28-140, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during climbout after departure from the Mount Pleasant, Utah, airport. The private pilot and his three passengers sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the local flight and the ELT actuated but did not assist in locating the accident site. When he submitted his NTSB 6120.1/2 written statement, the pilot stated that he calculated density altitude at 8000 feet and determined that the aircraft was about 50 pounds under gross weight. He elected to make a short field takeoff, using two notches of flap (25 degrees). He said he broke ground at about 62-65 mph and accelerated to 75 mph (approximately best rate-of- climb airspeed). He said he reduced to one notch of flaps and, at about 150 feet above the ground, he leveled off to accelerate, noting that he had cleared all terrain and obstacles. He noted then that his airspeed had decayed about 15 mph and the stall warning light was on. He lowered the nose to accelerate and turned east into the wind and maneuvered to avoid buildings while the aircraft continued sinking. The aircraft crashed in a hospital parking lot. During an interview with the pilot conducted by an FAA inspector on the day following the accident, the pilot stated that he did not do a performance computation prior to departure. He instead relied on his experience with this aircraft, having had four adults in the airplane on previous occasions and had no trouble taking off without incident. The pilot concluded that the engine did not lose power during the flight. In his written statement, the pilot indicated that he believed he was subject to wind shear at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8261N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8261N-2017-04-13), registration cancelled 2017-04-13, S/N 28-25473, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-25473 - Airframe hours: 5613 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tracy G. Woodbury - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1995, 29 hours before - Departed: 43U - Airport: 43U, Mount Pleasant, runway 2, 4,260 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 379 total, 298 in this make and model, 317 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 40° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19950903027779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950903027779A), Sep 3, 1995: Piper PA28140, Mt Pleasant, UT, Substantial damage. Cleared obstacles on climbout. Unable to accelerate. Mushed into parking lot. Gross weight density altitude factors ## Other investigations on N8261N (3) 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. - [NTSB FTW78DPM01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DPM01), Nov 30, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N8261N), Big Cedar, OK, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC71FCG59](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC71FCG59), Apr 25, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N8261N), Trenton, MO, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC71DCG38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC71DCG38), Dec 20, 1970: Piper PA-28 (N8261N), Chillicothe, MO, substantial damage 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.