Piper PA-28-140 N1762J

Summary

On 20 April 1998 at about 02:09 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N1762J was involved in an accident near Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 April 1998 at 02:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Kalamzoo/Battle Creek (AZO)

Coordinates

42.1994, -85.5602

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N1762J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI98FA130

4 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate flying airspeed resulting in a stall condition. Contributing factors were the tailwind condition and the pilot's exceeding the gross weight of the airplane on takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported seeing the airplane liftoff runway 5 past the runway 17/35 intersection located approximately 3108 feet from the approach end of runway 5. Runway 5 is 3,999 feet long. Witnesses reported the airplane climbed to 250 to 300 feet when the airplane rolled left and went straight down. The airplane burst into flames and the cockpit and fuselage were consumed by fire. Continuity was established to the flight controls. The propeller exhibited extensive chordwise scratching and gouges to the leading edges of the blades. Both blades exhibited torsional twisting and were bent back. The impact of the propeller on the taxiway left a shallow 'U' shaped impression about 0.5 inch deep in the taxiway asphalt. The pilot and the three adult passengers had a combined weight of about 730 pounds. The airplane was approximately 164 pounds over the maximum gross weight at takeoff. The airplane departed with a 4 knot left quartering tailwind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.