Accident Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee N1845J,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 147788
 
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Date:Saturday 18 August 2012
Time:17:00
Type:Silhouette image of generic P28A model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N1845J
MSN: 28-24280
Year of manufacture:1968
Total airframe hrs:3238 hours
Engine model:Lycoming O-320-D2A
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Near Jamison Road in Leesburg, OH -   United States of America
Phase: Approach
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Leesburg, OH (OH28)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot was taking off on a 2,100 foot grass runway with a quartering tailwind. The pilot stated that the airplane lifted off and climbed normally until it passed the end of the runway, at which time the engine "coughed" and lost power. A witness stated that the airplane's speed during the takeoff and climb was slow and that the airplane reached an altitude of about 40-50 feet above the runway end. A review of the airplane's takeoff performance data from a hard surface runway showed that the airplane's takeoff distance over a 50-foot obstacle was nearly equal to the runway length for the density altitude at the time of the accident. However, the soft grass runway surface, runway slope, and quartering tailwind present during the accident takeoff would have further lengthened the airplane's takeoff distance. Because of these considerations, the pilot should not have attempted to takeoff on that runway in those conditions.

The airplane's most recent annual maintenance inspection was completed about 5 months (about 7.8 flight hours) before the accident. However, the engine had not been overhauled within the manufacturer's recommended overhaul time of 12 years. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a leak from the fuel selector and evidence that one of the magnetos had a preexisting grounding anomaly; both conditions should have been discovered during the annual maintenance inspection. Additionally, the grounded magneto should have been evident to the pilot during the engine run-up. However, these anomalous conditions would not have had a significant effect on the airplane's performance. Examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper preflight planning and decision to attempt a takeoff from a runway that was too short for conditions, which resulted in the airplane settling into terrain.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: CEN12LA569
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=1845J

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
19-Aug-2012 04:41 gerard57 Added
20-Aug-2012 00:00 Geno Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Phase, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
06-Mar-2015 07:48 Anon. Updated [Narrative]
21-Dec-2016 19:28 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
28-Nov-2017 13:16 ASN Update Bot Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]

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