Clay Center Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clay Center, Nebraska 68933
Friday, September 3, 1993 16:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE TAXIING FOR DEPARTURE THE PILOT REMARKED TO A PASSENGER THAT THE RUNWAY SURFACE FELT SOFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE GRASS ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE WAS EIGHT INCHES HIGH. ACCELERATION DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS SLOW ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. HE STATED HE ATTAINED 55 MPH AND EXTENDED FULL FLAPS AFTER USING 75 PERCENT OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO AN ALTITUDE OF 25 FEET WHERE IT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT CLIMB SO THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE'S NOSEWHEEL STRUCK A COMBINE RUT AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN THREE FOOT HIGH GRASS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inadequate preflight planning by the pilot. Factors associated with this accident were a soft runway with high grass and the airplane's failure to attain a climb once airborne.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/3/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1655
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CLAY CENTER
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68933
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CLAY CENTER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID H51
Elevation of weather observation facility 1954
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1318
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 3 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1835
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5942D
NTSB Number CHI93LA350
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4605
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 29 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 1682
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROGER SCHROEDER
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 188 W. HWY 6234
Aircraft Owner City HOLBROOK
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68948
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State E
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2376
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --