Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MKC89FA090

OAK GROVE, MO, USA

Aircraft #1

N23227

PIPER J-3

Analysis

THE PLT LANDED AT A UNIDIRECTIONAL STRIP THAT REQUIRED LANDINGS TO THE SOUTH & TAKEOFFS TO THE NORTH (DUE TO A HILL NEAR THE SOUTH END OF THE STRIP). LATER, HE INITIATED A TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH WITH A PASSENGER ABOARD. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE 1320' GRASS STIP & CRASHED. THE PLT & PASSENGER WEIGHED 230 & 190 LBS,RESPECTIVELY. WEIGHT & BALANCE INFO INDCD THAT ANY FUEL IN EXCESS OF APRX 4 GAL WOULD HAVE PLACED THE ACFT OVER THE ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF WT & THE ACFT'S CG WELL AFT OF THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY SHORTENING THE WINGS, ADDING AN ADNL FUEL TANK TO EACH WING, & REPLACING THE CONTINENTAL C-65 ENG WITH A CONTINENTAL O-200-A ENG. ABOUT 23 MI WSW AT RICHARDS-GEBAUR ARPT, THE WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 8 KTS.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRCRAFT OVER ITS ALLOWABLE TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND OUT OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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