Aircraft: Piper Arrow. Injuries: None. Location: Mariposa, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, who was attempting to take off from a 3,300-foot runway, the airplane did not accelerate as he anticipated it would, and therefore it did not achieve adequate airspeed for take off in a timely fashion.
He decided to abort the takeoff but wasn’t able to stop the airplane before it went off the end of the runway and into a ditch.
Probable cause: The pilot’s delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun.
NTSB Identification: WPR12CA210
This May 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
