Failure of the pilot to remove frost from the wings prior to takeoff, causing an inadvertent stall/spin on initial climbout. Factors included exceeding the aircraft's certificated gross weight, and fog conditions.
— NTSB Determination
The airplane was tied down on the ramp overnight. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing or file a flight plan, and no airplane services were rendered. Witnesses said there was 'stand up' frost, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, on parked airplanes nearby. The temperature was near freezing, the wind was calm, and a heavy fog enveloped the airport when the airplane took off. It impacted terrain 400 yards west of the runway and burned. It was computed the airplane was 115 pounds overweight at takeoff.
The airplane was tied down on the ramp overnight. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing or file a flight plan, and no airplane services were rendered. Witnesses said there was 'stand up' frost, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, on parked airplanes nearby. The temperature was near freezing, the wind was calm, and a heavy…
The accident on 1999-11-28 involved a Piper PA-18-125, registration N1132A, at Afton, WY.
Failure of the pilot to remove frost from the wings prior to takeoff, causing an inadvertent stall/spin on initial climbout. Factors included exceeding the aircraft's certificated gross weight, and fog conditions.
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