Private Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ocilla, Georgia 31774
Saturday, May 7, 2011 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot turned the airplane to the right immediately after liftoff from the dirt strip to avoid a tree in its flight path. According to the pilot, the engine stopped producing power, the stall warning activated, and the airplane remained in a right bank until ground contact. The airplane came to rest upright in a cultivated field less than 1/2 mile from the departure strip. Photographs taken by first responders revealed significant tip-curling, leading edge gouging, and chord-wise scratching of both propeller blades, which was consistent with engine power at the time of impact. There was no visible evidence of an in-flight or post-crash fire. The airplane was recovered from the field, and a detailed examination of the airframe and powerplant revealed no evidence of pre-impact anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/7/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ocilla
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31774
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 013719N
Event Location Longitude 0831427W
Event Location Airport Private Strip
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
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 352
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1035 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 228
Weather Observation Facility ID KTMA
Elevation of weather observation facility 355
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KTMA 071435Z AUTO 29004KT 10SM CLR 23/06 A30
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29887
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern CROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 25 2012 6:12PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7317W
NTSB Number ERA11LA289
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-1181
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name COGHILL KETTIG
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HANOVER
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47243-9077
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John W. Hudson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Ocilla
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 31774
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure City Ocilla
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FZG
Destination City Fitzgerald
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2012 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 1214
Runway Width 105
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --