Event NYC98LA162

Factual narrative

On August 5, 1998, about 1700 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-28-181, N3023M, was substantially damaged after an aborted landing at West Liberty Airport (9I3), West Liberty, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was uninjured, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight between Blue Grass Airport (LEX), Lexington, Kentucky, and West Liberty. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that during the landing, the airplane didn't touch down when expected. He eventually got the airplane on the ground, but felt it was not slowing enough to stop on the runway. He added power and took off, but on climb-out the airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot wrote that at the time of the accident, the airplane was operating normally. He stated he was unaware that the 2,400 foot runway had a 1.5% downgrade, and that he had never landed on a runway with a downslope before. He also stated that he "hadn't appreciated the effect the slope would have on braking." The pilot stated that during the landing, the airplane didn't touch down when expected. He eventually got the airplane on the ground, but felt it was not slowing enough to stop on the runway. He added power and took off, but on climb-out the airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot wrote that at the time of the accident, the airplane was operating normally. He stated that he was unaware that the 2,400 foot runway had a 1.5% downgrade, and that he had never landed on a runway with a downslope before. He also stated that he 'hadn't appreciated the effect the slope would have on braking.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12