Piper PA46 N9111P

Summary

On 22 July 2016 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA46 registered N9111P was involved in an accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, 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

22 July 2016 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Claremore, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Claremore Rgnl (GCM)

Coordinates

36.2889, -95.4783

Aircraft

Piper PA46

Registration

N9111P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1987

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Claremore → Wichita

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA390

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff after multiple climb attempts at insufficient airspeed, which resulted in a runway excursion, a landing gear collapse, and a collision with a ditch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was performing the takeoff on a taxiway, due to a notice to airmen (NOTAM) in effect which closed the sole runway at the airport and allowed takeoff's and landing's from the parallel taxiway. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the airplane hit a "dip" in the pavement and became airborne unintentionally. The pilot further reported that he heard the stall warning horn and pitched forward, but the airplane drifted off to the left into a ditch and the nose and main landing gear collapsed. The left and right wings were substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport manager provided video surveillance of the takeoff. The video showed that about 2,050 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane pitched up, the nose and left main landing gear became airborne, but the airplane did not climb. Subsequently, the airplane touched back down and attempted to become airborne a second time about 300 feet further into the takeoff roll. The airplane's nose and main landing gear monetarily became airborne, but the airplane quickly touched back down and moved out of camera view.  The pilot reported that the takeoff weight was about 1 pound under the maximum allowable takeoff weight and he was attempting to perform a short field takeoff technique. The density altitude about the time of departure was 3,168 feet, the pressure altitude was 579 feet, and the temperature was 93 Fahrenheit (34 Celsius). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides guidance on how density altitude affects aircraft performance. According to the FAA Koch Chart, the airplane would have likely experienced a 35% increase to the normal takeoff distance and a 25% decrease in a normal climb rate. The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook in part states: "Due to the reduced drag in ground effect, the airplane may seem to be able to take off below the recommended airspeed. However, as the airplane rises out of ground effect with an insufficient airspeed, initial climb performance may prove to be marginal because of the increased drag. Under conditions of high-density altitude, high temperature, and/or maximum gross weight, the airplane may be able to become airborne at an insufficient airspeed, but unable to climb out of ground effect. Consequently, the airplane may not be able to clear obstructions, or may settle back on the runway." It is likely that the pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack during the two initial climbs and the airplane did not exit ground effect due to insufficient airspeed at rotation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.