El Dorado Springs Meml Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

El Dorado Sprgs, Missouri 64744
Friday, July 19, 2002 14:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted trees about 120 yards past the end of the runway on takeoff. Using the closest weather reporting station, the density altitude was calculated to be 3,085 feet. The pilot stated that neither he nor the certified flight instructor (CFI) on-board calculated the density altitude prior to the takeoff attempt. The takeoff was initiated from the runway intersection. The full runway length was not used. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, he reduced engine power to abort the takeoff. He further stated that the CFI advised him that the takeoff could be continued. The pilot restored full power and continued the takeoff. The airplane subsequently impacted the tree line.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure by the flight crew to abort the takeoff, as well as a failure by the flight instructor to properly monitor takeoff performance. Contributing factors to the accident were the flight crew's failure to calculate required takeoff distance, considering existing density altitude and runway surface/condition, and to utilize all available runway length.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City El Dorado Sprgs
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64744
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375124N
Event Location Longitude 0935957W
Event Location Airport El Dorado Springs Meml
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 87K
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 931
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID SGF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1267
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 47
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 3085
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12455
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1705
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2002 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-FSDO-Kansas City

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8220N
NTSB Number CHI02LA205
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 PA28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-25424
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 Aug 14 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 106
Airframe Hours 7832
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Duane E. Smith
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4402 E. Farm Road 64
Aircraft Owner City Fair Grove
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65648
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code M17
Departure City Bolivar
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1420
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 87K
Destination City El Dorado Sprgs
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2002 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2430
Runway Width 25
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --