Piper PA28-181 N793MA

Summary

On 13 December 2002 at about 23:45 local time, a Piper PA28-181 registered N793MA was involved in an accident near Greensburg, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 2002 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Greensburg, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Greensburg-Decatur County (I34)

Coordinates

39.3269, -85.5225

Aircraft

Piper PA28-181

Registration

N793MA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greensburg → Logansport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI03LA038

1 person had minor injuries.

Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing factors included inadequate planning/decision by the pilot for attempting to depart from the slush covered runway, the slush covered runway itself, and the falling snow.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the runway surface while attempting to takeoff. It came to rest in a plowed field adjacent to the airport. In his statement, the pilot reported: "As I started to lift off, suddenly the plane skid" and started to go toward the side of the runway. He went on to note that to avoid a collision, " I turned the plane to the west and tried to reduce speed, but the plane was out of control... ." The airport manager, who witnessed the accident aircraft attempting to takeoff, stated: "It was snowing fairly heavy, with a couple of inches of slush on the runway". He reported that it was almost a "white out" condition, and estimated visibility as approximately 1/4 mile. The pilot stated that there were no abnormalities with the controls, and no malfunctions with the aircraft. A post-accident examination also revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.