Piper PA-28-161 N36163

Summary

On 24 October 1989 at about 19:10 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N36163, operated by Pritts Aviation, was involved in an accident near Elkader, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 October 1989 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Elkader, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Elkader (C22)

Coordinates

42.8506, -91.3992

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N36163

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pritts Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Elkader → Spencer

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC90FA017

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE RUNWAY MARKER AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED TO THE FAR END OF THE 1860 FT RWY, AND THE PIC ADDED FULL POWER AND BEGAN A TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE SOUTH. AN EYEWITNESS STATED THE ACFT GAINED SPEED AND ROSE FROM THE GROUND, THEN HE TURNED HIS ATTENTION AWAY FM THE ACFT. THE WITNESS THEN HEARD THE AIRCRAFT STRIKE A RWY END MARKER CONSISTING OF 3 PALETTES WIRED IN A PYRAMIND. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE HIGH AND ENTERED A STEEP BANK TO THE LEFT AS THOUGH RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. THE ACFT CRASHED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE DURING THE TAKEOFF, THEREBY RESTRICTING ITS MOVEMENT, AND ULTIMATELY, AIRCRAFT CONTROL. NO PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED WITH EITHER THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE OR FLIGHT CONTROLS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.