Summary
On December 02, 2009, a Piper PA-38-112 (N2539K) was involved in an incident near Patillas, PR. 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 pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a tree.
According to the pilot, he conducted a pre-flight inspection before taking off from the paved, 2,000-foot runway. The takeoff was "normal," but the airplane's climb rate was "not enough to clear trees" at the end of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane lifted off about 1,500 feet down the runway. The airplane's right wing subsequently hit a tree located to the right of the runway, and sustained substantial damage. The inspector also reported no mechanical anomalies, and confirmed compression on all engine cylinders. Photographs of the tree indicated it was about 50 beyond, and 50 feet to the right of the runway. Straight out, and to the left of runway provided a relatively clear pathway.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA10CA090. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2539K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from a tree.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the pilot, he conducted a pre-flight inspection before taking off from the paved, 2,000-foot runway. The takeoff was "normal," but the airplane's climb rate was "not enough to clear trees" at the end of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane lifted off about 1,500 feet down the runway. The airplane's right wing subsequently hit a tree located to the right of the runway, and sustained substantial damage. The inspector also reported no mechanical anomalies, and confirmed compression on all engine cylinders. Photographs of the tree indicated it was about 50 beyond, and 50 feet to the right of the runway. Straight out, and to the left of runway provided a relatively clear pathway. Utilizing the ambient weather conditions, including a 6-knot headwind, the only takeoff performance data available in the pilot's operating handbook indicated that the airplane's takeoff distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle should have been approximately 1,450 feet.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA10CA090