Accident Piper PA-32R-301T N6913D, Wednesday 18 January 1989

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Date:	Wednesday 18 January 1989
Time:	01:45 LT
Type:	Piper PA-32R-301T
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N6913D
MSN:	32R-8529016
Year of manufacture:	1985
Total airframe hrs:	583 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Santa Ana, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Van Nuys, CA (KVNY)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRLANE COLLIDED WITH A GENERATOR THAT WAS POSITIONED ON THE RUNWAY TO ILLUMINATE AN X INDICATING THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED. THE PILOT DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED EVEN AFTER LISTENING TO AN ATIS MESSAGE STATING THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED. A NOTAM WAS IN EFFECT REPORTING THE SAME. THE PILOT SAID HE HEARD WHAT HE EXPECTED TO HEAR WHEN HE 'LISTENED' TO THE ATIS.

Probable Cause: POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION BY SELECTING THE WRONG RUNWAY DESPITE NOTAM AND ATIS INFORMATION INDICATING THE RUNWAY WAS CLOSED.

Accident investigation: