Event SEA02LA167

Factual narrative

On August 28, 2002, approximately 1650 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N5781F, impacted the terrain during an aborted takeoff from Big Creek Airport, Big Creek Lodge, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was departing for McCall, Idaho, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, just as the main gear were lifting off, the aircraft seemed to lose lift and "dropped" back onto the runway surface. At that point, the pilot looked at the windsock at the far end of the runway and determined that it was indicating a tailwind. He therefore made the decision to abort, but as he tried to bring the aircraft to a stop, he was unable to maintain directional control and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway. After departing the runway, the aircraft's nose gear and right main gear entered a nearby drainage ditch, thus allowing the right wing to impact the terrain and sustain substantial damage. Based on the ambient conditions of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and an altimeter setting of 30.20 inches of mercury, it was determined that the density altitude at the time of the attempted takeoff was approximately 7,550 feet. According to the pilot, the engine seemed to be producing "peak power," and there were no indications that there had been any problem with the engine or the aircraft's systems. During a high density altitude takeoff, just as the aircraft's main gear were lifting off the runway, the aircraft dropped firmly back onto the runway surface. At that point, the pilot looked at the windsock at the far end of the runway and saw that it indicated a tailwind. He therefore elected to abort the takeoff, but failed to maintain adequate directional control of the aircraft during its deceleration. The aircraft therefore departed the left side of the runway, whereupon the nose gear and right main gear entered a nearby drainage ditch, which allowed the right wing to impact the terrain and sustain substantial damage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12