Piper J4E accident near Akron, Alabama, May 16, 2005
On May 16, 2005, a Piper J4E, registered N35920, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akron, Alabama (Strickland Smalley Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's premature liftoff and his failure to attain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush. Also causal was the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2005
- Place
- Akron, Alabama · Strickland Smalley Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J4E · all J4Es on the register
- Registration
- N35920 · registry record · serial 4-1450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he started the takeoff roll on runway 19 with no noticeable head wind. The airplane accelerated down the runway to a point where he normally rotates the airplane at 50 mph. The pilot observed the airspeed indicator slightly below 50 mph, applied aft pressure on the flight controls, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot observed a decrease in airspeed and knew he could not clear trees located off the departure end of the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff by reducing power. The airplane touched back on the ground and the pilot applied aft pressure on the flight controls. The airplane became airborne and touched back down on the ground. The pilot started a left turn maneuver to avoid the trees and applied brakes. The pilot stated he lost directional control, the nose and right wing collided with the ground. The pilot further stated there were no anomalies noted with the airframe, flight controls, or engine assembly.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 299 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 234 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,220.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Akron AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL05CA080.