What happened
During a takeoff attempt from runway 29, a Piper aircraft experienced a critical loss of airspeed. The pilot reported applying full power to the engines prior to releasing the brakes. However, immediately following lift-off, the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear, at which point a dramatic reduction in airspeed was observed. The aircraft began to oscillate, rocking back and forth along the longitudinal axis.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power and lowered the nose to regain momentum, but these actions failed to stabilize the flight. An eyewitness observing refueling operations on the ramp noted that the aircraft was still positioned on the runway, approximately 500 feet from the end of the 2,910-foot runway, during the incident. At the time of the event, wind conditions were recorded at 010 degrees with a speed of 7 knots.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a significant loss of airspeed immediately following the retraction of the landing gear.
- Efforts to recover the flight by increasing power and adjusting the pitch failed to prevent the loss of airspeed.