Piper PA-28-140 N7556R

Summary

On 12 June 1999 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N7556R, operated by Jeffrey W. Wood, was involved in an accident near Grand Junction, Colorado, United States. 2 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

12 June 1999 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Junction, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

(Private Strip Not Named)

Coordinates

39.0308, -108.4300

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N7556R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jeffrey W. Wood

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN99LA101

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation for the runway and the environment in which he intended to fly. Factors were high-density altitude and a dirt runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on takeoff roll from a 2,250 foot long private air strip the aircraft became airborne then settled back to the ground off the end of the departure runway. The runway was dirt surface and the pilot was making his takeoff to the east. Wind at the time was from 290 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 17 knots. Aircraft performance data provided information that the aircraft was within 70 pounds of its maximum certificated gross weight and that the takeoff chart upper limit was 7,000 foot density altitude. The actual density altitude was 7,700 feet. According to the chart, which was based on a hard surface runway, no wind, and the aircraft at maximum certificated gross weight, the takeoff roll should have been 1,750 feet. The chart also stated that extending the curves above the 7,000 foot upper limit was not permissible. The pilot said he thought he encountered a wind shear during rotation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.