Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff. Factors include high vegetation, rough runway, and failure to attain adequate flying speed.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that the 5000-foot long airstrip had high weeds and ruts from rain runoff. He said he used a soft field takeoff procedure. At rotation he attempted to nose over in ground effect and settled back down on the runway. He rotated again and experienced what felt like a tailwind shear. At that point, he was out of runway. The aircraft right main landing gear struck a log barrier at the end of the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 20, 1997, approximately 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N1357T, collided with a barrier log at the end of a private airstrip near Madras, Oregon, during an attempted takeoff from the airstrip. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the recently certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. Preliminary accident information from the FAA indicated that during the attempted takeoff, the pilot was "unable to gain enough airspeed." The aircraft went off the end of the strip and hit the barrier log. The impact with the barrier log knocked off the airplane's landing gear. The pilot stated that the airstrip had high weeds and ruts from rain runoff. He said he used a soft-field takeoff procedure. He said at rotation he attempted to nose over in ground effect and settled back down on the runway. He rotated again and experienced what felt like a tailwind shear. At that point, he was out of runway. The aircraft right main landing gear struck a log barrier at the end of the runway. -