NTSB Factual Report

On April 4, 2001, at 0705 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N4586J, was substantially damaged when it struck a fencepost during a takeoff from a private airstrip in Lexington, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight, between Lexington and Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), Weyers Cave, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to statements from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and the pilot, the pilot attempted the takeoff from Runway 33, a 2,200-foot grass strip with random low spots. The takeoff, from a "slight upslope," was attempted after several days of rain, and the ground was still soggy. After liftoff, the airplane struck a 6-inch square wooden fence post at the departure end of the runway, which tore skin off a wing, and damaged the wing spar, aileron and anti-servo trim tab. The pilot then landed the airplane ahead, in an open field, about 300 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed.

Post-accident examination of the airplane confirmed that there were no contributing mechanical malfunctions.

The Piper Cherokee owners handbook stated that takeoffs should be made with flaps up. However, takeoff data was only provided for airplanes configured with flaps 25 degrees, performing a "maximum effort" takeoff from a paved, level, and dry runway.

Winds, recorded at an airport 25 nautical miles to the southeast, about 10 minutes before the accident, were from 040 degrees true, at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the runway conditions. Factors included the soggy runway conditions, and the lack of available takeoff performance data in the owners manual.