N864CA – Piper Seneca – 2008-05-31 NTSB Accident Report

On May 31, 2008, a Piper Seneca (N864CA) was involved in an incident near Plaquemine, LA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The certified flight instructor's poor decision to simulate a loss of engine on takeoff with a wet runway and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the dew covered runway surface and the ditch.

The private pilot told FAA personnel he was on an instructional flight with a certified flight instructor from a 2600 x 80 foot grass airstrip, which was wet with dew. At approximately 40 knots on initial takeoff roll the flight instructor pulled the left throttle to idle to simulate the loss of an engine on takeoff. The pilot aborted the takeoff, pulling the right throttle back and applying wheel brakes. The airplane slid off the side of the runway into a field and hit a ditch. Examination of the airplane revealed the left wing had pulled forward, separating the trailing edge from the fuselage approximately 1 1/2 inch and buckling the fuselage at the leading edge.

This incident is documented in NTSB report DEN08CA099. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N864CA.