NTSB Factual Report

On April 13, 2012, about 1030 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3583K, experienced a loss of control during takeoff, seconds after becoming airborne at the San Manuel Airport, San Manuel, Arizona. The airplane impacted the runway hard and collided with a parked airplane as it came to a stop. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained a minor injury. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and it was operated by PC Aircraft, in San Manuel. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that he began what seemed to be a normal takeoff. The airplane lifted off a few feet, then dropped back onto the runway at an angle subsequently colliding with a parked airplane.

A witness, who was at the airport, reported that he observed the airplane accelerate for takeoff from runway 11. Immediately after it lifted off the runway, the airplane entered a left bank towards the left side of the runway. The airplane bounced off the runway, traversed across a median and a taxiway before striking an unoccupied airplane and coming to rest about 2,500 feet from where the takeoff was initiated.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the left wing was bent upward about a 45 degree angle starting by the wing root. In addition, no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.