Cottonwood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rockford, Illinois 61109
Sunday, June 14, 1992 11:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE '...DID NOT ACHIEVE FLYING SPEED...' BEFORE LIFT-OFF. THERE WAS NO CLAIM OR EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD 270 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING 2.4 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A GRASS RUNWAY (2,540' X 260'), WITH TWO PASSENGERS, AND 32 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE TEMPERATURE TO BE 88 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S PREMATURE LIFTOFF. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE INSTRUCTOR'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE ROLL-OUT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/14/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ROCKFORD
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61109
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COTTONWOOD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IC8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 741
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2226
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 14 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46998
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56311
NTSB Number CHI92LA174
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7325606
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 6 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3013
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TITO NAPPI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2202 PRINCETON AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City ROCKFORD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61107
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TITO NAPPI
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5105 AUBURN STREET
Operator City ROCKFORD
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 61101
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2540
Runway Width 260
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --