Piper PA-28-181 N8335Y

Summary

On 31 January 2006 at about 15:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N8335Y was involved in an accident near Henderson, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 January 2006 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Henderson, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.7978, -82.0742

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N8335Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Henderson → Canton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

NYC06LA066

1 person died.

The pilot's improper decision to attempt the off-airport takeoff; and his improper decision to continue the takeoff after striking a pole during the takeoff roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field 2 days prior to the accident, due to fuel exhaustion. On the day of the accident, the pilot added approximately 6 gallons of fuel to the airplane, and attempted to takeoff through a corn field and parking lot. Approximately 550 feet from the point at which the airplane began the takeoff roll, the left wing struck a 6-foot tall, 4 by 4-inch wood pole. The airplane veered to the left, and started to climb; however, the airplane subsequently pitched down and impacted power lines. The airplane's left wing was severed at the root, and it impacted the ground nose first, about 1,400 feet from the point where the pilot began the takeoff roll. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The property owner reported that the pilot was aware of the pole prior to takeoff. The pilot had painted a red makeshift centerline on the ground; however, the airplane drifted left of the marked centerline during the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.