Accident Overview
On September 9, 2018, at 1117 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 airplane, registration N4078W, impacted terrain after takeoff from runway 20 at Hereford Municipal Airport (HRX) in Hereford, Texas. The pilot and three passengers were seriously injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, with visual meteorological conditions prevailing. No flight plan was filed. The intended destination was Reagan County Airport (E41) in Big Lake, Texas.
Witness Account
A witness who was in a T-hangar on the airport reported observing a portion of the takeoff. He stated that the airplane was in a nose-high, tail-low attitude before he lost sight of it behind a line of hangars. The engine sounded as if it was operating at full power.
Wreckage and Examination
The airplane came to rest in a grass field about 350 yards southeast of the departure end of the runway. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, engine/propeller, right wing, and empennage. The fuselage rested on its right side. The right wing had separated at the root and was found immediately adjacent to the fuselage. The left wing had separated at the root and was located about 50 yards north of the main wreckage.
A postrecovery examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The airplane was equipped with an engine monitor, which was downloaded. The data indicated that the takeoff began around 1116:40, with engine speed increasing to 2,659 rpm. Engine speed remained at or above 2,643 rpm until the penultimate data point at 1117:34. The final data point at 1117:40 showed an engine speed of 2,209 rpm. The rated engine speed was 2,700 rpm. Other engine parameters were within normal operating limits during engine run-up and takeoff.
Weight and Balance
A weight and balance calculation based on available loading information indicated a takeoff gross weight of approximately 3,249 lbs and a center-of-gravity location of about 92.59 inches, both within the allowable loading envelope. A current airplane weight and balance record was not available to the investigation; the calculation used a previous empty weight from the FAA airworthiness records.
Performance Information
According to the airplane owner's manual, the expected takeoff ground roll with 10° flaps was about 1,800 ft, and about 2,900 ft to clear a 50 ft obstacle. With 25° flaps, the takeoff ground roll was about 1,700 ft, and about 2,700 ft to clear a 50 ft obstacle. The density altitude at the time of the accident was about 5,647 ft. The available runway length was 6,100 ft.
The owner's manual stated that during takeoff the airplane should be allowed to accelerate to 65 to 70 mph, and noted that "premature raising of the nose, or raising it to an excessive angle will result in a delayed take-off." The manual recommended a normal takeoff flap setting of 10° (first notch) and a short-field takeoff flap setting of 25° (second notch).