On July 13, 1989, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N23414) operated by Micheal T. Worrell was involved in an aviation accident near Granite, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff due to a nose wheel shimmy, which resulted in premature lift-off and departure from the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot experienced a nose wheel shimmy during takeoff, leading to premature lift-off and loss of directional control. The aircraft departed the runway left side, striking a fence before coming to rest.
What happened
The incident began during the takeoff roll when the student pilot reported experiencing a moderate shimmy in the nose wheel assembly. This vibration or oscillation occurred while the aircraft was accelerating down the runway for departure.
As the aircraft reached rotation speed, the pilot attempted to lift off prematurely. However, at this point, directional control was lost. Unable to maintain alignment with the centerline, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway.
The aircraft continued its path off the paved surface and struck a fence located approximately 30 feet from the edge of the runway. After impacting the fence, the airplane came to a final stop roughly 100 feet away from the side of the runway.
Probable cause
The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff due to a nose wheel shimmy, which resulted in premature lift-off and departure from the runway.