Event DEN05LA133

Factual narrative

On August 30, 2005, at 1826 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N9069E, operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a telephone pole and house 1/2 mile southwest of the Ogden-Hinkley Airport (OGD), Ogden, Utah. A postimpact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private certificated pilot and commercial certificated flight instructor sustained minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a written statement submitted by the flight instructor, they were cleared to taxi to runway 21 and had accepted an intersection departure at intersection Delta. During the initial takeoff, the private pilot was at the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that the the private pilot rotated at "70 knots" and the airplane "jumped off the runway and drifted left and then made a slight hop on the main gear." The flight instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and held it "level in ground effect for several seconds to get it to accelerate." He stated that the stall horn was audible. The flight instructor stated that he initiated a slight turn to the right towards lower terrain. According to the control tower operator at the Ogden-Hinkley Airport, the airplane appeared to be going up and down and he contacted the pilot to ask if they were having difficulty. The pilot reported they were "struggling." According to several witnesses the airplane appeared to be having difficulty climbing. The airplane struck a telephone pole, nosed down, and impacted the roof of a two story house. The left wing separated from the fuselage and came to rest outside of the house. The empennage, fuselage, right wing, and engine assembly came to rest inside the second story of the house. The airplane and a portion of the house were partially consumed by fire. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. The flight instructor stated the airplane was 300 pounds under gross weight. The OGD Control Tower reported 4,700 feet available from the land and hold short line at intersection Delta to the end of runway 21. According to the Piper Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM), the airplane should have had a climb rate of 650 feet per minute. The distance required for take-off varied from approximately 2,000 feet (zero degrees flaps and no 50 foot obstacle) to 3,250 feet (zero degrees flaps with a 50 foot obstacle). The Piper AFM recommends 25 degrees flaps for short field departure procedures with an obstacle. In addition, the Piper Owner's Manual recommends rotation between 60 and 70 miles per hour. According to the flight instructor, they were cleared to taxi and had accepted an intersection departure. During the initial takeoff, the private pilot was at the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that the private pilot rotated at "70 knots" and the airplane "jumped off the runway and drifted left and then made a slight hop on the main gear." The flight instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and held it "level in ground effect for several seconds to get it to accelerate." He stated that the stall horn was audible. The flight instructor stated that he initiated a slight turn to the right towards lower terrain. According to several witnesses the airplane appeared to be having difficulty climbing. The airplane struck a telephone pole, nosed down, and impacted the roof of a two story house, causing substantial damage to the house and destroying the airplane. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. The flight instructor stated the airplane was 300 pounds under gross weight. The control tower reported 4,700 feet available from the land and hold short line at intersection Delta to the end of runway 21. According to the AFM the airplane should have had a climb rate of 650 feet per minute. The distance required for take-off varied from approximately 2,000 feet (zero degrees flaps and no 50 foot obstacle) to 3,250 feet (zero degrees flaps with a 50 foot obstacle). Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12