On June 13, 2002, a Piper PA-32R-300 (registration N38709) was involved in an aviation accident near Beaumont, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his failure to abort the takeoff when he realized the aircraft was not accelerating as expected. The wet and muddy turf runway was a contributing factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane was substantially damaged after hitting trees during takeoff from a wet, muddy grass airstrip. The pilot reported failing to reach rotation speed and acknowledged he should have aborted.
Accident Overview
An airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees during takeoff from a grass airstrip that was wet and muddy. The pilot reported that rain had fallen the day and night prior to the flight.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that the aircraft did not achieve rotation speed by the end of the runway. He acknowledged that he should have aborted the takeoff once he realized the airplane was too slow to lift off.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the airframe, powerplant, and systems revealed no anomalies that existed prior to the impact. The investigation found no evidence of pre-existing mechanical or structural issues.