Piper PA-32-260 N5521J

Summary

On 30 March 2008 at about 17:18 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N5521J was involved in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, 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

30 March 2008 at 17:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Valle Airport (40G)

Coordinates

35.6506, -112.1481

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N5521J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Canyon → Redlands

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX08CA111

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and delay in aborting the takeoff. Contributing to the accident were wind gusts and a crosswind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After fueling the airplane, a normal engine start was accomplished and the pilot announced on Unicom that he was taxiing to runway 19 for engine run up. Prior to takeoff, the pilot requested a wind check, and was given 170 to 220 degrees at 20-25 knots. During the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted towards the right edge of the runway. The airplane became airborne momentarily, but settled back to the runway as it continued to accelerate. With about a quarter of the runway remaining, the pilot aborted the takeoff. During the pilot's attempts to stop the airplane, it overran the end of the runway and came to rest approximately 100 feet from the end. The left wing's spar was bent, and the wing's top skin and bottom skin were wrinkled.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.