MIA97LA138

Factual narrative

On April 14, 1997, about 1845 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-160, N5363W, registered to a private individual, crashed when control was lost during takeoff at Pickens County Airport, Pickens, South Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the student-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Pickens, the same day, about 1750. The pilot stated he had completed his fifth touch-and-go landing and was taking off again. Just before reaching rotation speed, the right wing dropped down. The airplane then began to roll on the right main and nose landing gear, and turned 45 degrees to the left. The aircraft went off the side of the runway and he reduced engine power. He did not apply brakes because the aircraft was still on the two wheels. The left main landing gear touched down just about the time the aircraft went down an embankment into trees and brush where it came to rest. Postcrash examination of the right landing gear strut was performed by two mechanics. The strut was found to be holding air pressure and had no evidence of air leaks. The strut contained 2.5 ounces of hydraulic fluid and was extended above 2 inches. (See attached statements.) The student pilot stated that he had completed his fifth touch-and-go landing and was taking off again. He said that just before reaching rotation speed, the right wing dropped down, and the airplane began to roll on the right main and nose landing gear, turning 45 degrees to the left. The aircraft went off the side of the runway, and subsequently, it went down an embankment into trees and brush, where it came to rest. Postcrash examination of the right landing gear strut showed it was extended above 2 inches and still had air pressure and fluid. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12