Event CHI98LA203

Factual narrative

On June 16, 1998, at 1950 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-151, N6771F, impacted the terrain during an aborted takeoff from Jefferson Airport, Jefferson, Iowa. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was practicing touch and go landings at the airport when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was on file. The flight had originated at Carroll, Iowa at 1930. In a written statement, the pilot said he intended to conduct a touch and go landing. He indicated that during the landing roll he applied full throttle, and when he rotated for takeoff, "I felt the plane wasn't lifting compared to normal." He said that he then elected to abort the takeoff; however, was unable to stop the airplane on the paved portion of the runway. He said the airplane exited the runway, crossed a grassy area, a roadway, and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot told authorities that this was the first time he had flown this airplane with three passengers and he wrote in his written statement that at the time of the accident he had accumulated a total time in this make and model airplane of 2.2 hours. An examination of the airplane after the accident failed to reveal any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. The pilot was attempting a touch and go with three passengers in the airplane. When he rotated for liftoff, he felt the airplane did not feel right and initiated an aborted takeoff. He did not maintain directional control. The airplane exited the runway, traversed a grassy area, a roadway and impacted a ditch. The pilot said that this was the first time he had flown the airplane with three passengers. He also indicated that he had a total time in this make and model of airplane of 2.2 hours. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12