At about 1305 Pacific time, the airplane impacted terrain after shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was killed by the accident sequence and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The accident flight occurred in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. It has not yet been determined whether the pilot intended to take off, or whether he was performing a high-speed taxi test of the recently restored airplane. According to witnesses, the pilot pulled onto the runway, added what appeared to be full power, and after rolling about 200 feet, the airplane lifted off and climbed to a near-vertical attitude. After reaching a height of about 200 feet, it rolled off on its right wing and descended near vertically into the flat grassy terrain between a crossing runway and its adjacent taxiway.
October 8, 2009, Burlington, Wash., Piper PA-12
At about 1305 Pacific time, the airplane impacted terrain after shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was killed by the accident sequence and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The accident flight occurred in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot was killed and his recently restored airplane substantially damaged in an accident shortly after takeoff.
- It has not been determined if the pilot intended a full takeoff or a high-speed taxi test.
- Witnesses reported the airplane lifted off after a 200-foot roll, climbed to about 200 feet in a near-vertical attitude, then rolled right and descended vertically.
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