# NTSB SEA97LA028: Piper PA-28-151, N32518, Bruneau, ID, November 7, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 1996, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Bruneau, ID - Coordinates: 42.520248, -115.749603 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5202&lon=-115.7496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42540/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA028 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to perform adequate preflight planning to ensure that the aircraft could complete a takeoff in the distance available. Factors relating to the accident included: a short takeoff area, and a dirt bank at the end of the road from which the pilot attempted to depart. ## 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 - roll/run - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot landed on a short stretch of dirt road because of the physiological needs of his passengers. He did not perform takeoff distance calculations prior to attempting the takeoff to ensure that the aircraft could successfully depart from the available surface. During the attempted takeoff, the aircraft reached the end of the available road prior to liftoff, and impacted a dirt bank. The force of the impact folded the nose gear aft and tore the right main gear from the right wing. ## Factual narrative On November 7, 1996, approximately 1630 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered to and operated by Rocky Mountain Air, Inc., and being flown by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when the right main and nose landing gear collapsed during the takeoff roll from a dirt road near Bruneau, Idaho. The accident site was approximately 60 nautical miles south of Nampa, Idaho. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a sightseeing flight, was to have been operated under the requirements set forth in 14CFR135.1(b)(2) and originated at Nampa, on the afternoon of the accident. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he made an off-airport landing on a 2,500-foot stretch of dirt road due to the physiological needs of the passengers. Prior to attempting the takeoff, he did not perform takeoff-distance calculations to ensure that the aircraft could successfully get off the ground from the available surface. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft reached the end of the available road before becoming airborne, and impacted a shallow dirt bank. The impact resulted in the nose landing gear folding aft and the right main landing gear separating from the right wing. The NTSB was notified of the event on November 8, 1996, approximately 0800. The damage assessment was defined as minor at that time. Further assessment by FAA maintenance personnel revealed substantial damage and the Board's Northwest Regional Office was notified of the upgrade on November 18, 1996, at 0800. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32518](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32518), registered now, S/N 28-7515174, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7515174 - Airframe hours: 5590 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Rocky Mountain Air - Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 1996, 10 hours before - Destination: S67, NAMPA, ID - Airport: Dirt Road (Off Airport) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,675 total, 150 in this make and model, 3,561 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 19961107046089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961107046089A), Nov 7, 1996: Piper PA28151, Bruneau, ID, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot landed on a short stretch of dirt road because of the physiological needs of his passengers. He did not perform takeoff distance calculations… 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.