On September 10, 2005, a Piper PA-28R-201T (registration N391TM) was involved in an aviation accident near Dunsmuir, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane overran the runway during an aborted takeoff and entered a ditch after the pilot decided to abort due to inadequate airspeed.
Incident Overview
An airplane overran the runway during an aborted takeoff and came to rest in a ditch. The event occurred during the takeoff ground roll on a 2,700-foot-long runway.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll, the pilot determined that the airplane had not achieved adequate airspeed for a safe takeoff. Consequently, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. However, the remaining runway length was insufficient for the airplane to stop before the runway end. The airplane continued beyond the runway threshold and entered a ditch adjacent to the runway.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft during the incident.