Fleet Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Culver, Indiana 46511
Friday, April 13, 2001 15:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted trees when it veered off runway 16 after an aborted takeoff during an instructional flight. During takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 5 feet above the runway before settling back onto the runway. The certified flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied maximum braking but was unable to stop. He then veered the airplane off the runway in an attempt to avoid running off a steep slope and a swamp located beyond the end of the runway. Winds reported at a weather station located 34 miles northeast of the airport were 260 at 7 kts. There are several FAA publications which address settling onto the runway after liftoff in regards to high rotational rates, rotation speed, ground effect, and downwind takeoffs.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the CFI delayed remedial action during the takeoff. Additional factors were the wrong runway was selected, the tailwind, and the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/2001
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1525
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Culver
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46511
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Fleet Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IN73
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 815
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID GSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10383
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 13 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2240
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2001 10:56AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-South Bend FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3573S
NTSB Number CHI01LA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-801691
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Jan 31 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 7531
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Culver Educational Foundation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1300 Academy Rd. #140
Aircraft Owner City Culver
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46511
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code IN73
Departure City CULVER
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
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? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 25 2004 3:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --