What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-08-02 involved a Piper PA22-135, registration N3522A, at Lyons, WI.

Aircraft Strikes Trees During Takeoff After Failing to Clear Obstacle (N3522A)

On August 2, 2002, a Piper PA22-135 (registration N3522A) was involved in an aviation accident near Lyons, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pilot to maintain a sufficient rate-of-climb and to obtain a safe altitude/clearance from the tree line at end of the runway. Contributing factors were the uphill runway gradient and the trees. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

During takeoff, an airplane remained in ground effect until reaching a hilltop, then failed to clear a tree line approximately 100 yards off the runway end, impacting trees at 15-20 feet AGL.

Incident Overview

According to the pilot, the airplane performed normally during takeoff to the northeast. The pilot maintained the aircraft in ground effect until reaching the top of a hill at the northeast end of the runway. At that point, the airplane failed to clear a tree line located approximately 100 yards beyond the runway's end. The aircraft subsequently impacted the trees at an altitude of 15 to 20 feet above ground level.

Runway and Terrain

The last 1,000 feet of the runway slopes upward, which may have influenced the aircraft's climb performance during the takeoff roll and initial climb.

Engine Testing

Following the incident, the engine was test run under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was found to operate satisfactorily.

Investigation Status

No further details regarding the aircraft, occupants, or extent of damage have been released. The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances leading to the collision with trees.

2002-08-02: Piper PA22-135 (N3522A) — Lyons, WI