PIPER PA 28-161

Full Narrative

At an airport with a field elevation of 1,357 feet above mean sea level, where the temperature was 23 degrees Celsius, the pilot loaded the airplane with passengers, luggage, and fuel, to near its maximum gross weight He then initiated a takeoff on a 2,986-foot-long runway, which had an approximate 500-foot displaced threshold on each end, a 0.6 percent uphill gradient, and obstructions in the form of trees off the departure end. During the takeoff, the airplane failed to become airborne and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway, and was substantially damaged when it struck vegetation and terrain. The pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Review of airport security camera footage revealed that the pilot had initiated a rolling, zero flap takeoff from an intersection with approximately 200 feet of usable pavement behind him. Review of the weather conditions present at the time of the accident indicated that the density altitude was 2,805 feet. Review of weather information and a Koch chart also indicated that with the density altitude that existed at the time of the accident, a 30 percent increase in takeoff distance should have been anticipated by the pilot along with a 23 percent decrease in rate of climb. Review of the information manual for the airplane revealed that it did contain published performance information. When asked if he had checked the density altitude prior to takeoff the pilot advised that he had not.