Piper PA-11 N4707M

Summary

On 5 August 2016 at about 16:13 local time, a Piper PA-11 registered N4707M, operated by Agri-Flite Inc, was involved in an accident near Indianola, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 August 2016 at 16:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Indianola, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Laverty Field Airport (IA41)

Coordinates

41.4153, -93.5614

Aircraft

Piper PA-11

Registration

N4707M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1947

Engines

1

Operator

Agri-Flite Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Indianola → Indianola

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA310

2 people died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the airplane being operated above its maximum gross weight, degraded its climb performance, and led to an aerodynamic stall during the initial climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was using a company airplane to accumulate flight time and experience. Two witnesses reported seeing the airplane climbing after takeoff and noted that the airplane was flying slowly and that it had a "hard time getting any lift." The airplane finally started to climb; however, the wings started rocking and the airplane subsequently descended into terrain. The witness statements were consistent with the prestall motions of the airplane. The pilot and passenger were employed as company ground personnel. According to company policy, the pilot was not allowed to fly with passengers, and the passenger was only allowed to fly with a company flight instructor. The pilot was not a flight instructor. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident estimation of the airplane's weight and balance showed that the airplane exceeded its maximum gross weight at the time of the takeoff. It is likely that the pilot's inadequate preflight planning led to the airplane being operated above its maximum gross weight and degraded its climb performance and led to an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.