ATL03LA148

Factual narrative

On September 28, 2003, at 2039 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-180, N2342T, registered to Scott's Auto Country and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground during take-off climb at Talladega Municipal Airport, Talladega, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Part 91 with no flight plan. Visual condition prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight departed Talladega Municipal Airport, Alabama on September 28, 2003, at 2030. According to the pilot, the airplane had been taxing for an hour and a half at idle speed. When the airplane was cleared for take-off, the take-off acceleration seemed "sluggish". The airplane reached 65 knots, and the airplane rotated for climb-out. During climb-out the engine miss-fired, and an emergency transmission was made to the control tower. The airplane climbed approximately 200 feet, and the engine quit. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and conducted an emergency landing on runway 21. The airplane landed on the runway and rolled off the overrun. The pilot secured the airplane and instructed the passengers to exit. Examination of the airplane revealed spar damage on the left and right wing assemblies. The fuselage was buckled and the main landing gear was sheared off. All flight control surfaces were examined and found to been operating correctly. A run-up of the engine was conducted, and the engine normally up to 800 rpm. The propeller was bent and a higher rpm was not attainable. Review of the Piper Cherokee pilot's operating handbook, section: Warm-up and Ground Check, (Carburetor heat should also be checked prior to take-off to be sure that the control is operating properly, and to clear any ice which may have formed during taxiing). A review of weather data, at the time of the accident, disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The pilot did not report checking carburetor heat following the long period of ground operation. According to the pilot, he had been taxiing for an hour and a half at idle speed. He was cleared for takeoff, but the takeoff acceleration seemed "sluggish". During the climb out the engine miss fired, the airplane climbed approximately 200 feet, and the engine lost power. The airplane landed on runway 21 and rolled off the overrun. Examination of the airplane revealed spar damage to the left and right wing assemblies. The fuselage was buckled and the main landing gear was sheared off. All flight control surfaces were examined and found to be operating correctly. A run up of the engine was conducted, and the engine attained 800 rpm. Review of the Piper Cherokee pilot's operating handbook, section: Warm-up and Ground Check, (Carburetor heat should also be checked prior to take-off to be sure that the control is operating properly, and to clear any ice which may have formed during taxiing). A review of weather data, at the time of the accident, disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The pilot did not report checking carburetor heat following the long period of ground operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12