Piper PA 16 N5616H

Summary

On 22 April 2015 at about 13:50 local time, a Piper PA 16 registered N5616H, operated by Mountain Air Inc, was involved in an accident near Hartwell, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 April 2015 at 13:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hartwell, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Airnautique, Inc. (0GA2)

Coordinates

34.3822, -82.9456

Aircraft

Piper PA 16

Registration

N5616H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1949

Engines

1

Operator

Mountain Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hartwell → Newberry

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA047

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control 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 reported that about 700 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift left as he approached the narrowest part of the runway. The airplane departed the runway to the left, impacted trees, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot and sole passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.