Incident Overview
On June 29, 2008, at approximately 1700 central daylight time, a single-engine Piper PA-32RT-300T airplane, registration N132RR, was substantially damaged after impacting trees during takeoff from the Snake Creek Wilderness Airport (OK06) in Cookson, Oklahoma. The private pilot and two occupants sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Lance Land Services LLC., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The 132-nautical mile cross-country flight was departing at the time of the accident and was destined for Wiley Post Airport (PWA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, moments after the airplane became airborne, he observed a partial loss of engine power. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted trees beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane came to rest with its nose pointing skyward, lodged in a tree. There was no post-crash fire, and all three occupants were able to exit the airplane unassisted.
Investigation Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's wings and fuselage sustained structural damage during the impact. The investigation further revealed that the propeller had sliced into a tree in a manner consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. No abnormalities were reported with the flight controls. The reason for the reported partial loss of engine power was not determined.
Weather Conditions
At 1653, the automated weather observing system at Davis Field Airport (MKO), Muskogee, Oklahoma, located 20 nautical miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 340 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear of clouds, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.13 inches of mercury.