Piper PA28-140 accident near El Dorado Sprgs, Missouri, July 19, 2002
On July 19, 2002 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N8220N, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Dorado Sprgs, Missouri (El Dorado Springs Meml airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure by the flight crew to abort the takeoff, as well as a failure by the flight instructor to properly monitor takeoff performance. Contributing factors to the accident were the flight crew's failure to calculate required takeoff distance, considering existing density altitude and runway surface/condition, and to utilize all available runway length.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2002 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- El Dorado Sprgs, Missouri · El Dorado Springs Meml · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8220N · no longer on the register · serial 28-25424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted trees about 120 yards past the end of the runway on takeoff. Using the closest weather reporting station, the density altitude was calculated to be 3,085 feet. The pilot stated that neither he nor the certified flight instructor (CFI) on-board calculated the density altitude prior to the takeoff attempt. The takeoff was initiated from the runway intersection. The full runway length was not used. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, he reduced engine power to abort the takeoff. He further stated that the CFI advised him that the takeoff could be continued. The pilot restored full power and continued the takeoff. The airplane subsequently impacted the tree line.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,832 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2001; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M17 Bolivar MO at 7:20 pm
- Destination: 87K El Dorado Sprgs MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,430 ft by 25 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from SGF, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.