Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cle Elum, Washington 98922
Saturday, July 24, 2004 18:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot, who had loaded the aircraft to a weight more than 100 pounds over the maximum permissible takeoff gross weight, did not perform either weight and balance or takeoff/climb performance calculations prior to takeoff. He then attempted a takeoff and climb-out in a high density altitude environment, but was unable to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear nearby trees without his airspeed dropping to near that at which a stall would occur. After passing through an opening in a line of trees he could not climb over, the pilot elected to attempt to return to the airport. While in a shallow turn, the aircraft came in contact with a tree, which resulted in it loosing enough altitude that it was unable to clear another group of trees between it and the airport. Seeing that he could not clear the trees, the pilot elected to attempt a controlled crash landing in an area between some of the trees, but one of the aircraft's wing impacted one of the trees while the aircraft was still about 15 feet above the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain and maintain a safe rate of climb after takeoff, due to his failure to perform pre-takeoff weight/balance and takeoff/climb performance calculations. Factors include a high density altitude environment, and trees off the departure end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1850
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Cle Elum
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98922
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471139N
Event Location Longitude 1205349W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KELN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1763
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) 5159
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16796
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 24 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1915
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2006 2:52PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1912H
NTSB Number SEA04FA143
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7725167
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 4806
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Zephyr Aviation LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 909 254th Ave NE
Aircraft Owner City Sammamish
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98074
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Noland-Decoto Flying Service
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address West 2810 Washington
Operator City Yakima
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98903
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 S93
Departure City Cle Elum
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1842
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code S93
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2004 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --