Piper PA-28-180 accident near Hurdland, Missouri, September 18, 2004
On September 18, 2004 at about 7:33 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8275W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hurdland, Missouri (Harrison Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed and directional control during the takeoff and his failure to properly abort the takeoff after the encountered tailstrike. A factor to the accident was the stall/mush encountered during the attempted takeoff and the parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2004 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- Hurdland, Missouri · Harrison Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8275W · no longer on the register · serial 28-2430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a parked aircraft during an attempted takeoff. A video of the accident was obtained from a witness. The video showed the accident airplane over-rotating during the takeoff roll that resulted in a tailstrike and the nose landing gear settling back to the runway. The airplane then yawed to the right with all three landing gear still in contact with the runway. The airplane then rotated again and climbed about three feet before settling back to runway. The airplane then went off camera, but when the camera reacquired the airplane it was airborne again, traveling off the right side of the runway. The airplane impacted a parked airplane that was positioned off the right side of the runway, near the departure end. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll the airplane attained about 65 mph prior to rotation. The pilot reported that the airplane became airborne and he subsequently lowered the nose to gain additional airspeed, but the airplane settled and touchdown on the runway and "slowed down." The piloted stated that he "pulled off the ground again" but there were trees off the end of the runway so he decided to "abort the takeoff." The pilot reported that the airplane "stalled and veered to the right side of the runway" and "clipped the nose of the parked aircraft." According to takeoff performance calculations, the airplane had sufficient runway to perform the takeoff.
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: 1,300 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 29, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2004; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MU33 Hurdland MO at 7:33 pm
- Destination: ALO Waterloo IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from IRK, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.