Accident Details
On September 9, 2015, at approximately 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-36-375 single-engine airplane, registration N1057E, was substantially damaged when it collided with a corn crop shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Elmwood, Nebraska. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Stove Creek Air, LLC, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial-application flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he had completed numerous aerial-application flights from the airstrip earlier that day, with all systems operating normally. Before the accident flight, the airplane was loaded with 1,500 lbs of seed and 40 gallons (240 lbs) of aviation fuel. The pilot stated that no anomalies were noted during the preflight inspection or the before-takeoff engine run-up.
The accident takeoff was made toward the south with partial flap extension. After applying full engine power, the pilot released the brakes and the airplane accelerated down the runway. The tail became airborne about three-quarters of the way down the 2,600-foot turf runway at 75 mph. Although the airplane lifted off before the runway end, the pilot was unable to gain additional airspeed or achieve a positive climb rate. The airplane remained in ground effect, crossed the departure threshold, and settled into a corn crop about one-quarter mile past the runway end.
Aircraft Damage and Conditions
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage, empennage, and an engine mount. The main landing gear collapsed during the off-field landing. At the time of the accident, the pilot estimated the airplane weight at 4,500 lbs, approximately 300 lbs below the maximum gross weight of 4,800 lbs. Local weather reports indicated light and variable winds. Performance calculations for the airplane at 4,500 lbs, with flaps retracted and no headwind on a level hard-surface runway, indicated a required takeoff distance of about 1,750 feet to liftoff and about 2,650 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The turf runway was 2,600 feet long. The pilot operating handbook did not provide takeoff performance data for grass/turf runways or with flaps extended.
Pilot Comments
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures and stated that the accident could have been prevented by reducing the payload weight.