Piper PA32R N47863

Summary

On 25 January 2018 at about 19:25 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N47863 was involved in an accident near Marathon, Florida, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 January 2018 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Marathon, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

The Florida Keys Marathon Intl (MTH)

Coordinates

24.9569, -81.0506

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N47863

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marathon → Winter Haven

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18LA070

4 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that the airplane "was performing well and didn't have any issues" during the attempted takeoff. When the airplane reached about 60 knots during the takeoff roll, the nosewheel lifted off the runway, and the airplane began immediately turning left. The pilot attempted to arrest the turn with rudder and aileron control inputs, but the airplane continued to turn left, exited the runway, and impacted trees. Given that the airplane had been performing as expected initially, it is likely that the pilot failed to adequately compensate for the airplane's natural left turning tendencies due to torque effects during the attempted takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.