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 after it impacted terrain shortly after a rapid, near-vertical ascent following an apparent full-power launch.
- Investigators are working to determine if the pilot intended to take off or was conducting a high-speed taxi test, despite the accident occurring in visual meteorological conditions.
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