Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The certificated private pilot and passenger were departing a private gravel airstrip that was 2,200 feet long. The airplane became airborne to an altitude of about 10 feet. The pilot then noted that the engine did not sound as if it was producing full power. There was not a noticeable roughness or dramatic power loss. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and could not stop the airplane from going off the end of the strip into a stand of alder trees. The nose gear was sheared from the airplane and it received damage to the wings and elevator.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 21, 1996, about 1250 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-28, N8873J, collided with trees during an aborted takeoff at Anderson Lake Strip, a private airstrip about 4 miles northeast of Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Aleknagik, Alaska, when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 08, the airplane became airborne to an altitude of about 10 feet. In a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot indicated that he thought he heard or felt that the engine did not sound normal. There was not a noticeable roughness or dramatic power loss. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff from the 2,200 feet long gravel strip. The pilot could not stop the airplane from going off the end of the strip into a stand of alder trees. The nose gear was sheared from the airplane and it received damage to the wings and elevator. -