Pope Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Greenfield, Indiana 46140
Saturday, May 26, 2012 7:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he conducted an engine run-up, which included a carburetor heat check, without any anomalies. The pilot stated that the taxi distance from the run-up location to the takeoff position was about 200 feet, and the start of the takeoff was not delayed for any reason. The ground roll was slightly longer than normal, which did not initially concern the pilot. However, after the airplane lifted off, it did not accelerate as usual. The pilot was able to clear an intervening set of power lines, but was unable to gain enough airspeed to sustain a climb. The pilot stated that he was concerned about inducing an aerodynamic stall by attempting to climb over the approaching tree line, and he elected to maintain controlled flight into the trees. A postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/26/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 703
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Greenfield
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46140
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394725N
Event Location Longitude 0854410W
Event Location Airport Pope Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GFD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 895
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 653 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 194
Weather Observation Facility ID GEZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 803
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
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) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30012
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 2 2012 5:15PM
User who most recently changed record snyg
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9815D
NTSB Number CEN12LA332
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-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-6702
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 25 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1510
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Mark A. Grant
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Charlottesville
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46117
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Melvin E. Grant
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Greenfield
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46140
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 GFD
Departure City Greenfield
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GFD
Destination City Greenfield
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 6 2012 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2165
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --