Ernest A. Love Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prescott, Arizona 86301
Monday, December 24, 2001 8:55 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After takeoff the airplane would not climb and, with insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff, the pilot made an intentional gear-up landing at the departure end of the runway. Airport personnel who responded to the scene found most of the wing surfaces were covered with 1/8- to 3/8-inch of snow and ice. The pilot reported that he spent 1.5 hours with a broom and a cloth removing snow and "most of [the] ice" from the fuselage and wings. He also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions and stated "I must assume I hadn't enough lift due to ice particles."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate removal of snow and ice from the surfaces of the airplane before takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/24/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 855
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Prescott
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86301
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Ernest A. Love Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PRC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 5045
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID PRC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5045
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) 4900
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) 14036
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Dec 24 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 919
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale, Arizona

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3023K
NTSB Number LAX02LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7918022
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 3225
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James W. Mason
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Killeen
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76543
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PRC
Departure City Prescott
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 855
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAC
Destination City Sacramento
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2003 2:23PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21L
Runway Length 7616
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --