Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s improper decision to depart from an unsuitable off-airport surface which resulted in his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 3, 2017, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-15, N4195H, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Farmville, Virginia. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
In a statement provided to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he purchased the airplane the day before the accident and was flying back to his home airport when he made a precautionary landing in a field due to a possible fuel transfer issue. After troubleshooting and confirming fuel flow to the engine, he attempted to take off from the field. The pilot reported that, due to the high vegetation, the airplane was "not able to get enough airspeed to climb out and clear the trees at the end of the field." The pilot initiated a turn, which resulted in a low altitude stall. The left wing impacted terrain and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest upright in a corn field.
The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.
Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed it came to rest in a corn field and was consumed by an extensive postcrash fire.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA17LA225