Piper PA-28-151 N44293

Summary

On 8 July 2013 at about 21:07 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N44293 was involved in an accident near Bronston, Kentucky, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

8 July 2013 at 21:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Bronston, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Boss Airport (08KY)

Coordinates

36.9847, -84.6206

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N44293

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bronston → Mt. Sterling

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13CA317

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s reduced climb performance due to density altitude, as well as the pilot’s decision to initiate the takeoff from the wet turf runway. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was attempting a soft-field takeoff from a turf runway that he described as “extremely wet and soggy with tall grass.” The airplane became airborne approximately halfway down the 2,500-foot-long runway, and the pilot reported that climb performance was degraded due to hot weather conditions. During the climb, the left landing gear impacted a line of trees past the runway end. The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain airspeed, and the airplane subsequently stalled and impacted an open field, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The fuselage was consumed by post-crash fire. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.