Piper PA-32RT N789CS

Summary

On 15 October 2000 at about 18:18 local time, a Piper PA-32RT registered N789CS was involved in an accident near Selmer, Tennessee, United States. 5 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 October 2000 at 18:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Selmer, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Selmer (SZY)

Coordinates

35.1703, -88.5890

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT

Registration

N789CS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Shreveport

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL01FA008

1 person died.

The pilots inadequate preflight planning and preparation, that resulted in exceeding the designed weight and balance of the airplane. Factors were the pilot's use of inappropriate medications and the collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with trees and subsequently the ground shortly after takeoff. According to witnesses, the airplane used about 3/4ths of the 5002-foot runway on the takeoff roll, and just before liftoff they heard the engine 'miss-fire'. They said the airplane did not seem to want to climb, and they observed it porpoise just above the trees. The airplane porpoise two or three times and then disappeared into the trees, and a crash was heard followed by smoke and fire. Examination of weight and balance data showed that the takeoff weight of the airplane was 252 pounds more than the designed limits at the time of the accident. The toxicology examination found evidence of Hydrocodone, dihydrocodeine and acetaminophen in the pilot's blood and liver samples.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.