ROLLING FORK, MS, USA
N8634C
PIPER PA-28-181
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A PVT ARPT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF ON THE GRASS NEXT TO THE CONCRETE/ASPHALT RWY BECAUSE THERE WAS A SHARP EDGE AT THE BEGINNING OF IT & THE RWY CONTAINED RUTS & LOOSE SAND PILES. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE OBSERVED A HIGH ROW OF WEEDS NEXT TO THE GRASS BUT DID NOT OBSERVE A DITCH NEXT TO THE TALL WEEDS. AFTER APPLYING POWER HE RELEASED THE BRAKES & WHILE PERFORMING A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURE, FELT THE ACFT PULL TO THE RT. HE APPLIED LT RUDDER TO CORRECT THEN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RT & TRAVELLED INTO A DITCH. THE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED UNHARMED. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE ARPT, THE RWY DID NOT CONTAIN RUTS AS DESCRIBED BY THE PLT BUT THE GRASS EXTENSION BEFORE THE RWY WAS SOFT.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN WINGTIP CLEARANCE WITH TALL GRASS AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE GROUND ROLL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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