On August 7, 1982, a Piper PA-38 (registration N2406D) operated by Pro-flite OF Vero Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Vero Beach, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a touch-and-go landing on a grass field, the pilot aborted takeoff when the aircraft would not lift off. Seeing a ditch ahead, he kept power on to jump it but struck orange trees.
Incident Overview
A pilot on an instructional flight conducted touch-and-go landings at a grass field airport. During one such landing, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff after the aircraft failed to become airborne. Observing a ditch at the end of the runway, the pilot maintained engine power in an attempt to jump the ditch. The aircraft subsequently collided with orange trees.
Weather Conditions
According to the 1450 EDT weather report from Vero Beach, the wind was from 110 degrees at 10 knots, and the temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had flown to another airport to practice grass field landings. The accident occurred during a touch-and-go landing. After aborting the takeoff, the pilot left the power on to jump the ditch at the runway's end. The aircraft then collided with orange trees.