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Agricultural Flight Aborted After Takeoff with Leaned Mixture

Cambridge, NE, United States

On July 23, 2011, a PIPER PA-36-375 operated by Behnke Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Cambridge, NE. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot inadvertently departed with the engine mixture control leaned at approximately the halfway setting. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural airplane failed to climb after takeoff due to a leaned engine mixture, resulting in a collision with terrain and substantial damage.

Accident Narrative

On the first agricultural application flight of the day, the airplane departed from a runway with a slight uphill grade. The pilot reported that acceleration was less than expected and lifted off near the departure end of the runway with minimum airspeed. Subsequently, the airplane failed to accelerate or climb and struck terrain approximately 600 feet from the airport. The impact collapsed the landing gear and caused substantial damage to the airframe and elevator.

Contributing Factors

The pilot reported that he inadvertently departed with the engine mixture control leaned at approximately the halfway setting. He stated that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane and that the accident could have been prevented if he had used the checklist.

Probable cause

The pilot inadvertently departed with the engine mixture control leaned at approximately the halfway setting.

Contributing factors

PilotNot used/operated

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 23 Jul 2011 PIPER PA-36-375 accident near Cambridge, NE?

An agricultural airplane failed to climb after takeoff due to a leaned engine mixture, resulting in a collision with terrain and substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 23 Jul 2011 PIPER PA-36-375 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 23 Jul 2011 involved a PIPER PA-36-375, operated by Behnke Aviation, at Cambridge, NE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot inadvertently departed with the engine mixture control leaned at approximately the halfway setting.

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