FRANKFORT, KY, USA
N5661F
PIPER PA-32R-300
THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND HIS FIVE PASSENGERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO DEPART RUNWAY 24 AT FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, DURING THE TAKEOFF THE TAIL APPEARED TO BE DRAGGING THE RUNWAY, AND SPARKS WERE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING WITH A NOSE UP PITCH ATTITUDE OF ABOUT 30 DEGREES AND HANGING ON THE PROPELLER. THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY, AND AT A HIGH RPM. AT ABOUT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A LEFT TURN, ROLLED INVERTED AND CRASHED. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT'S CENTER OF GRAVITY EXCEEDED THE AFT CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OPERATE THE AIRCRAFT WITHIN THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITATIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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