Piper PA-32R-301T N289JG

Summary

On 15 October 2000 at about 01:30 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N289JG, operated by James A. Gecsei, was involved in an accident near Tecumseh, Michigan, United States. 2 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 October 2000 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tecumseh, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Meyers-Diver's (3TE)

Coordinates

41.9992, -83.9398

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N289JG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James A. Gecsei

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Muncie

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA010

Nobody was injured.

The pilot was unable to rotate the aircraft during takeoff for undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the soft terrain, which the airplane encountered during the aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane overran the runway and collided with soft terrain during an aborted takeoff. The pilot reported the preflight, engine start, and engine run-up were normal. He reported, "At 85 knts, I pulled back on the yoke. It moved only slightly, but the plane would not rotate. I pulled again hard, but still no movement. I then cut the throttle and applied full brakes." The airplane traveled off the end of the runway, across a road, and into a plowed field where the nose gear collapsed and both main gears were separated from the airplane. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any failure/malfunction with the flight control systems. Inspection of the engine revealed the three screws that hold the magneto harness cover on the right magneto were missing and the harness was backed away from the magneto. In addition, the turbine in the turbocharger was dragging when he attempted to spin it by hand. Teardown of the turbocharger revealed a build-up of carbon in the heat shield.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.