Kanab, UT, USA
N4202R
Piper PA-32-300
The pilot was taking off on runway 17, which was made of rough dirt/gravel with drainage ditches and berms on both sides. He said the wind was from the south at approximately 5 knots. He said that as the airplane approached rotation speed, a gust of wind from the west lifted the right wing. He said the airplane was pushed off the left side of the runway, and when he corrected back, the airplane continued off the right side striking the adjacent berm. The right main landing gear was bent outboard, and the left main and nose wheel landing gear both separated from the aircraft. The airplane came to rest on its belly, on the left side of the runway facing north. The pilot said that after he exited the airplane, he noticed that the wind was now out of the north at approximately 5 knots. He also observed several dust devils on the runway. The insurance adjuster said that the engine firewall, both wing assembles, both ailerons and flaps, the empennage, and the horizontal stabilizer needed to be replaced.
On September 11, 2006, at approximately 1615 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300 (Cherokee Six), N4202R, was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt at Deer Springs Ranch Airport (UT30; elevation 6,485 feet), Kanab, Utah. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his four passengers were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he was taking off on runway 17 (8,920 feet by 35 feet), which was made of rough dirt/gravel with drainage ditches and berms on both sides. He said the wind was from the south at approximately 5 knots. The pilot said that as the airplane approached rotation speed, a gust of wind from the west lifted the right wing. He said the airplane was pushed off the left side of the runway, and when he corrected back, the airplane continued off the right side striking the adjacent berm. The right main landing gear was bent outboard, and the left main and nose wheel landing gear both separated from the aircraft. The airplane came to rest on its belly, on the left side of the runway facing north. The pilot said that after he exited the aircraft, he noticed that the wind was now out of the north at approximately 5 knots. He also observed several dust devils on the runway. The insurance adjuster said that the engine firewall, both wing assembles, both ailerons and flaps, the empennage, and the horizontal stabilizer needed to be replaced.
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the rough/uneven conditions of the dirt runway, the wind gusts, and the berms and ditches on both sides of the runway.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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