Piper PA-32R-301T N880SC

Summary

On 5 September 2004 at about 16:15 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N880SC, operated by Bob Cullen, was involved in an accident near Picabo, Idaho, United States. 3 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

5 September 2004 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Picabo, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Picabo (ID82)

Coordinates

43.3047, -114.0581

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N880SC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bob Cullen

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Picabo → Corona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA180

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to set the propeller control for takeoff performance needed to outclimb obstacles. The pilot's failure to use the checklist, trees, and a fence are contributing factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff from a grass/turf runway, the pilot-in-command failed to ensure that the propeller control lever remained in the full forward position during the entire takeoff sequence. As a result, the aircraft did not lift off the ground at a point that it otherwise would have. Because the pilot did not abort the takeoff when it became clear that the aircraft was not performing as it should, the aircraft lifted off late, collided with some trees and a fence, and then settled back onto the terrain. It then experienced a collapse of all three landing gear. There was no indication that there had been any malfunction of an aircraft system, or that the engine was not capable of producing full power. The pilot-in-command did not use a checklist during his pre-takeoff and takeoff activities.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.