Big Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Big Creek, Idaho 83661
Wednesday, August 28, 2002 16:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a high density altitude takeoff, just as the aircraft's main gear were lifting off the runway, the aircraft dropped firmly back onto the runway surface. At that point, the pilot looked at the windsock at the far end of the runway and saw that it indicated a tailwind. He therefore elected to abort the takeoff, but failed to maintain adequate directional control of the aircraft during its deceleration. The aircraft therefore departed the left side of the runway, whereupon the nose gear and right main gear entered a nearby drainage ditch, which allowed the right wing to impact the terrain and sustain substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the aborted takeoff. Factors include high density altitude, variable winds, and a ditch near the point where the aircraft departed the side of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1650
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Big Creek
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83661
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450700N
Event Location Longitude 1151918W
Event Location Airport Big Creek
Event Location Nearest Airport ID U60
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5743
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) 7546
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) 12914
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2003 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boise FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5781F
NTSB Number SEA02LA167
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-25088
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 Apr 18 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 4665
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Kevin D. Murray
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Vancouver
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98661
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 No
Departure Airport Code U60
Departure City Big Creek
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1650
Departure Time Zone 
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYL
Destination City McCall
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2002 12:59PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 3550
Runway Width 110
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --