N2148F

On June 7, 2005, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N2148F, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from the Weltzien Skypark Airport (15G), Wadsworth, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor and a student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to written statements, the student pilot was attempting a short-field takeoff from runway 21, a 2,360-foot-long, 37-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the student pilot began the takeoff roll, the flight instructor reduced the right engine throttle to simulate an engine failure. The student pilot reduced the left engine throttle, and began braking. The flight instructor then instructed the student pilot to resume the takeoff, and the student pilot advanced both throttles forward.

The flight instructor stated that the airplane accelerated normally to a rotation speed of about 63 knots. The student pilot indicated that the airplane was not lifting off, and the flight instructor elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane was about halfway down the runway, when the flight instructor retarded the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls, and began braking. He then realized the engines were still producing power. The flight instructor further stated:

"By the time I again reached for the levers, it was too late to stop, and we skidded off the runway...."

The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through a ditch, and came to rest in a field.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Nor did the flight instructor report any. In retrospect, the flight instructor said that instead of aborting the takeoff, he should taken control of the airplane from the student pilot, and positively rotated during the takeoff roll.

The flight instructor reported 2,043 hours of total flight experience, which included about 132 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He also stated that at the time of the accident, the winds were calm, and the outside air temperature was 92 degrees Fahrenheit.