On May 8, 1988, a Piper PA-22-135 (registration N1424C) operated by Jim F. White was involved in an aviation accident near Pawnee, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to attempt takeoff with an aircraft exceeding its maximum gross weight limit in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in inadequate climb performance. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft departed a turf runway in gusty crosswinds, failed to gain altitude, and struck trees due to being approximately 300 pounds over maximum gross weight.
What happened
The unlicensed pilot and two passengers sustained injuries when their airplane was unable to climb after departing from a turf runway. The aircraft collided with trees and impacted the terrain, resulting in the destruction of the airplane.
The investigation
Examination of the departure conditions revealed that the aircraft was approximately 300 pounds over its maximum gross weight limit at the time of takeoff. Additionally, the pilot was attempting to depart into a left crosswind that was gusting up to 26 mph.
Findings
Contributing factors included the excessive weight of the aircraft and the challenging wind conditions during the critical takeoff phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to attempt takeoff with an aircraft exceeding its maximum gross weight limit in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in inadequate climb performance.
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