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GAA15CA158

2015-06-29 · Blanding, Utah, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BDG

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's selection of a departure runway of inadequate length for the density altitude, resulting in the airplane not gaining sufficient lift, departing the runway, and impacting terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the twin-engine airplane reported that prior to takeoff, he "didn't lean out the motors". He reported that during the takeoff roll, "there wasn't enough lift and probably the density altitude was involved." The airplane ran off the departure end of the runway into a field, impacted terrain, and sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that the accident was because of "pilot error." The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The computed density altitude for the departure airport was 8,570 feet at the time of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector reported that the pilot was not rated for multi-engine airplanes and that the airplane was not airworthy prior to the accident. The pilot of the twin-engine airplane reported that prior to takeoff, he "didn't lean out the motors". He reported that during the takeoff roll, "there wasn't enough lift and probably the density altitude was involved." The airplane ran off the departure end of the runway into a field, impacted terrain, and sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that the accident was because of "pilot error." The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engines that would have precluded normal operation.  The computed density altitude for the departure airport was 8,570 feet at the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Flight planning/navigation-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Configuration-Attain/maintain not possible - C
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Contributed to outcome - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA15CA158.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.