On August 18, 1992, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2357N) operated by Vondrau, Kevin was involved in an aviation accident near Clarendon, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate runway length for takeoff due to outdated information about the air strip's configuration. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempted takeoff from an air strip he had not used in years, unaware it had been shortened by 900 feet. He realized the error during the roll and struck cotton plants at the end of the remaining pavement.
What happened
The pilot reported that he had last utilized the specific air strip several years prior to the accident. Consequently, he was unaware that the runway length had been reduced by 900 feet. During the takeoff run, he did not realize the actual length of the available pavement until it became apparent that there would be insufficient distance to clear the obstructions at the end of the field. The airplane struck cotton plants located at the end of the runway and subsequently settled back onto the ground.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this incident was the pilot's failure to account for the shortened runway length. This oversight occurred because he had not used the air strip in several years and lacked current knowledge of its reduced dimensions.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate runway length for takeoff due to outdated information about the air strip's configuration.