TRUCKEE, CA, USA
N8772N
Piper PA-28-140
The pilot took off with twice the amount of fuel needed to fly to his next fuel stop. After takeoff the aircraft was not able to gain speed or altitude. He had not leaned the mixture and the aircraft performance continued to decrease so the pilot decided to turn back toward the airport. The aircraft began to stall and he nosed the aircraft into the ground to avoid hitting power lines and other nearby structures. The temperature at the time of the accident was reported as 63 degrees, dew point 61 degrees with a density altitude of 7,400 feet. The pilot reported that he had not attempted to use carburetor heat. He stated there was no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident.
On September 7, 1998, at 1026 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N8772N, collided with the ground in a field 1 1/2 miles west of the Truckee, California, airport during the takeoff initial climb. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot/owner and passenger, the sole occupants, suffered minor injuries. The personal flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to the Troutdale, Oregon, airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he took off on runway 28 and noticed that the takeoff roll was longer than usual. The stall light came on after takeoff and the aircraft was not gaining speed or altitude. As he got over the trees, the aircraft performance began decreasing further, so he decided to turn left to head back toward the airport and avoid the populated area. He reported that he had not tried to lean the mixture, and he had taken off with twice the amount of fuel needed to fly to his next fuel stop. The aircraft began to stall and he nosed the plane into the ground to avoid hitting power lines and other nearby structures. He estimated that his speed on impact was about 50 mph. The temperature at the time of the accident was reported as 63 degrees and the dew point was 61 degrees. The pilot reported that he had not attempted to use carburetor heat. He further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident.
The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in temperature conditions conducive to carburetor icing and his failure to lean the engine in a high density altitude environment, which combined, led to a partial loss of engine power and the onset of a stall during the forced landing in rough uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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