On July 27, 1983, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N9945T) was involved in an aviation accident near St. Augustine, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine misfire and subsequent power loss during takeoff, leading to an inability to clear the runway end. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft experienced engine misfiring shortly after takeoff, resulting in a short-field landing in a cornfield with substantial damage.
What happened
The pilot reported that immediately following lift-off, the engine began to misfire and subsequently lost power. At that critical moment, there was insufficient runway remaining to safely stop the aircraft. Consequently, the crew attempted to continue the takeoff profile. The aircraft failed to clear the cornfield at the end of the 2000-foot runway strip. It ultimately came to rest in the adjacent cornfield with substantial damage.
The investigation
A teardown of the engine was conducted to determine the root cause of the power loss. The inspection revealed no discrepancies that would explain or cause such a sudden loss of power.
Probable cause
Engine misfire and subsequent power loss during takeoff, leading to an inability to clear the runway end.