On September 9, 1995, a Piper PA-38 (registration N2596N) was involved in an aviation accident near Milwaukee, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control and departure from the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft departed the left side of runway 9 during rotation due to insufficient airspeed, impacting terrain 100 yards east and sustaining substantial damage.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a takeoff roll on runway 9. As the aircraft reached rotation speed and the nose was lifted, it began to drift toward the left side of the runway. The pilot applied right rudder input in an attempt to correct the yaw and maintain alignment with the centerline. However, the aircraft lacked sufficient airspeed to respond effectively to the control inputs. Consequently, the airplane departed the paved surface and impacted the ground approximately 100 yards east of the runway end.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site revealed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact with the terrain outside the runway environment.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control and departure from the runway.