Piper PA-28-160 N5040W

Summary

On 15 July 1995 at about 05:20 local time, a Piper PA-28-160 registered N5040W was involved in an accident near Kent, Washington, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 1995 at 05:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Kent, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Crest Airpark (S36)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-160

Registration

N5040W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Portland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA95LA151

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEAR OF THE TREES. THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION WAS A FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ESTIMATED THE PASSENGERS WEIGHT, BAGGAGE, AND FUEL QUANTITY AND REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED ONE POUND UNDER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND WITHIN THE C.G. ENVELOPE FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL, HE HELD THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY TO GAIN ADDITIONAL GROUND SPEED BEFORE ROTATION. AFTER ROTATION, THE PILOT HELD THE AIRPLANE IN GROUND EFFECT TO INCREASE THE AIRSPEED BEFORE PULLING UP TO GAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE FELT 'SLUGGISH' AND THE STALL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE ANGLE OF ATTACK WAS INCREASED. BECAUSE OF THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE PILOT WAS NOT SURE IF THE AIRPLANE WOULD CLEAR THE TERRAIN AND OBSTRUCTIONS OFF THE DEPARTURE END THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE LANDING GEAR COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS, THE PILOT REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN SMALL TREES AND HIGH BRUSH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.