Overview
On June 3, 2018, at approximately 12:30 UTC, a Piper PA-36-300 aircraft, registration LV-MZT, experienced a runway excursion during takeoff from an airstrip located on Route 4, km 144, near La Carlota, Córdoba Province, Argentina. The aircraft was operated by a private owner for agricultural aerial seeding. The sole pilot was uninjured.
Flight Details
The pilot prepared the aircraft for a seeding flight from the "El Indio" estate. The hopper was loaded with 550 kg of rye seeds, and fuel was drained to remove possible water accumulation. Frost was removed from the windshield but not from the rest of the fuselage or wings. The engine was started at 12:10 UTC and warmed for 15 minutes. After a final ground check, the pilot began the takeoff roll from the runway threshold heading east, with flaps set at 15° and engine parameters within normal limits. During rotation, the aircraft did not become airborne. The pilot attempted to abort by continuing forward but the aircraft struck a cattle trough with the main landing gear and the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator contacted a fence. The aircraft then settled back onto the ground, losing the main landing gear, left elevator, and solid spreader, before stopping a few meters further. The pilot exited unaided.
Investigation
Investigators examined the engine, propeller, and flight control systems and found no evidence of pre-existing failures. The aircraft was configured correctly for takeoff per the flight manual. Weight and balance calculations, based on pilot-provided data (no loading records were used), indicated the aircraft was within its limits. However, frost was observed covering a significant area of the upper fuselage, the extrados of the wings, and the horizontal tail. This frost was present before the flight, having only been removed from the windshield.
Conclusions
The probable cause of the accident was the presence of frost on the aircraft structure, which altered the aerodynamic profile of the wings, reducing lift and increasing drag to the extent that the aircraft could not achieve takeoff. The subsequent collision with obstacles resulted in substantial damage.
*Note: The official investigation report classified this event as a runway excursion and recommended awareness of the consequences of frost on aircraft performance.*