NTSB Factual Report

On September 9, 2015, about 1830 central daylight time, a Piper model PA-36-375 single-engine airplane, N1057E, was substantially damaged when it collided with a corn crop shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip located near Elmwood, Nebraska. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Stove Creek Air, LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial-application flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that, on the day of the accident, he had completed numerous aerial-application flights from the private airstrip. The pilot reported that the airplane and its engine had been operating normally during the previous flights. Before the accident flight, the airplane was loaded with 1,500 lbs of seed and 40 gallons (240 lbs) of aviation fuel. The pilot stated that there were no anomalies with the airplane during his preflight inspection or before-takeoff engine run-up.

He reported that the accident takeoff was made toward the south and that he initially used a partial flap extension. After the application of full engine power, he released the brakes and the airplane accelerated down the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane's tail became airborne about 3/4 down the runway at 75 mph. He stated that although the airplane had become airborne before the end of the runway, he was unable to gain additional airspeed or achieve a positive climb rate. The airplane remained in ground effect as it crossed over the runway departure threshold, but it subsequently settled into the corn crop about 1/4 mile past the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage, empennage, and an engine mount. The main landing gear also collapsed during the off-field landing.

According to the pilot, at the time of the accident takeoff, the airplane weighed about 4,500 lbs, which was about 300 lbs below the airplane's maximum gross weight of 4,800 lbs. According to local weather reports, the wind was light-and-variable at the time of the accident. According to performance calculations, the airplane, at 4,500 lbs and with the flaps fully retracted, with no headwind, on a level hard-surface runway, would have required about 1,750 feet of runway to achieve liftoff and about 2,650 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The north/south turf runway was 2,600 feet long. The pilot operating handbook did not provide takeoff performance data for operations from a grass/turf runway or with flaps extended.

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, he stated that he believed the accident could have been prevented if he had reduced the payload weight for the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s decision to take off with the airplane near its maximum gross weight from a runway that did not have sufficient length for the airplane to achieve a normal takeoff and positive climb rate after liftoff.