N38399

On May 26, 2002, approximately 1700 central daylight time, a Piper J-5 single-engine airplane, N38399, was substantially damaged when it struck trees during an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip near Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that just after liftoff, the engine lost power. He then tried to abort the takeoff by setting the aircraft back onto the runway. He decided to abort because of a perpendicular tree line located at the end of the runway. Subsequently, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and collided with trees and brush resulting in structural damage to the wing. The loss of engine power could not be determined, although the pilot suspected carburetor ice. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and the temperature/dewpoint in which the airplane was operating, a "serious icing" probability could have existed.