Event SEA96LA132

Factual narrative

On June 20, 1996, approximately 0958 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-36-285, N9970P, registered to and being flown by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during an inflight collision with terrain shortly after takeoff, at the Hazelton airport, Hazelton, Idaho. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was to have been an aerial application, was to have been operated under 14CFR137. The pilot reported that on takeoff from the 3,000 foot gravel runway 24 he perceived an approximate 15% reduction of power but decided to continue the takeoff as he had reached 60 miles per hour at his "Go/No Go" point. He turned south, crossing Interstate 84 during which the engine surged briefly and he began dumping a portion of his chemical load. He reported that he was unable to achieve a positive climb rate and initiated dumping the remaining chemical load during which the aircraft's main landing gear contacted a plowed field approximately 30 degrees to the orientation of the furrows (refer to attached photos). The main landing gear separated from the aircraft and the aircraft came to rest. The pilot reported departing Hazelton with 200 gallons of chemical and 32 gallons of fuel. Density altitude was approximately 5,400 feet. A compression check of all eight cylinders was accomplished on July 8, 1996, by personnel from Snake River Aircraft Maintenance in Twin Falls, and revealed no mechanical discontinuity within the engine (compression findings noted below). Additionally, the exhaust stacks were examined and no excessive buildup of sooting or carbon was noted, and approximately seven gallons of fuel was drained from one fuel tank (the opposite tank was observed to have been breached). Cylinder: Performance: #1 72/80 #2 40/80 leaking by rings #3 40/80 leaking by exhaust #4 71/80 #5 42/80 leaking by rings #6 60/80 #7 68/80 #8 66/80 The pilot failed to respond to two requests for the completion of NTSB Form 6120.1/2. The pilot reported an approximate 15% reduction in power during the takeoff; however, by that time, the aircraft was at the go/no-go point, and the pilot felt he had sufficient airspeed to continue. Shortly after turning left from the runway heading, the engine surged. The pilot initiated a partial dump of the 200 gallon chemical load, but was unable to achieve a positive climb rate. He then initiated dumping of the remainder of the chemical load, during which, the main landing gear contacted furrows of a plowed field and collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a stop. The density altitude was approximately 5,400 feet at the time. During examination of the engine, no reason was found for the partial loss of power. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12