On November 1, 2003, a Piper PA-22-150 (registration N3264Z) operated by Charles Bomark was involved in an aviation accident near Franklin, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a short-field departure, the pilot over-rotated the aircraft, causing it to settle back onto the runway before veering off and coming to rest inverted just beyond the runway end.
What happened
The accident occurred during the takeoff phase of flight. The pilot was operating from a runway with a length of approximately 2,000 feet. During the initial climb-out, the pilot over-rotated the airplane, causing it to pitch up excessively.
Although the aircraft initially gained an altitude of about 15 feet, the excessive angle of attack caused it to lose airspeed and settle back onto the runway surface. The subsequent landing was hard. Following impact with the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the right, deviating significantly from the runway centerline.
The aircraft traveled approximately 30 feet beyond the end of the runway before coming to a final rest in an inverted position.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.