Short Air Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warrensburg, Missouri 64093
Tuesady, July 18, 2000 12:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after lifting off 2/3 to 5/8 the way down the 2,600-foot long grass, wet runway, the airspeed did not seem to increase and the airplane was not climbing like normal. He stated he lowered the nose and entered a shallow left turn toward an open area to avoid trees in front of him. The pilot reported that upon completing the turn, he leveled the wings and brought the yoke to a "normal to slightly aft" position. He reported, "at that point we lost all lift and impacted left wing low and on the nose wheel-which collapsed." The pilot reported the engine sounded fine and there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions with the airplane. According to a PA-28-140 Owner's Handbook the useful load for the airplane is 949 pounds. The pilot reported a combined weight of 580 pounds for himself and his passengers. He also reported he had 32 gallons of fuel onboard. Density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be 2222 feet. According to a PA-28-140 Owner's Handbook, on a standard day, using a paved runway, at gross weight, the takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle is approximately 2200 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inadequate airspeed on takeoff that resulted in a stall/mush condition. Factors associated with the accident were the wet, grass runway, and the trees near the departure end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/18/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WARRENSBURG
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64093
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SHORT AIR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1MU4
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 840
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 65
Weather Observation Facility ID SZL
Elevation of weather observation facility 871
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 78
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 70
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2222
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10717
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 629
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 17 2001 9:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4435J
NTSB Number CHI00LA208
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 28-22839
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TIMOTHY R. JONES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2808 W 91ST STREET
Aircraft Owner City LEAWOOD
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66206
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
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 1MU4
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LXT
Destination City LEES SUMMIT
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2001 4:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --