GULF SHORES, AL, USA
N8389Y
PIPER PA-28-181
THE PLT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE 3600 FT RWY AFTER OBSERVING THAT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS INOP. BEFORE HE COULD STOP THE ACFT, IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY & WENT INTO A DITCH. AN EXAM BY AN A&P MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE PITOT HEAD WAS OBSTRUCTED BY A MUD DAUBER NEST. THE OBSTRUCTION WAS NOT VISIBLE THRU THE PITOT OPENING. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS COMMON AT THAT ARPT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN SVRL DAYS BEFORE THE ACDNT WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK RECOMMENDED THAT A PITOT COVER BE USED WHENEVER THE ACFT WAS NOT IN USE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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