Piper PA 28-161 accident near Honesdale, Pennsylvania, June 29, 2016

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

At an airport with a field elevation of 1,357 ft above mean sea level, where the temperature was 23°C, the pilot loaded the airplane with passengers, luggage, and fuel, to near its maximum gross weight. He then initiated a takeoff on a 2,986-ft-long runway, which had an approximate 500-ft displaced threshold on each end, a 0.6-percent uphill gradient, and trees off the departure end. While attempting to take off, the airplane failed to become airborne, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway and was substantially damaged when it struck vegetation and terrain. The pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Review of airport security camera footage revealed that the pilot had initiated a rolling, 0-flap takeoff from an intersection with about 200 ft of usable pavement behind him. Review of the weather conditions present at the time of the accident indicated that the density altitude was 2,805 ft. Review of weather information and a Koch chart also indicated that with the density altitude that existed at the time of the accident, a 30 percent increase in takeoff distance should have been anticipated by the pilot along with a 23 percent decrease in climb rate. Review of the information manual for the airplane revealed that it contained performance information. When asked if he had checked the density altitude before takeoff, the pilot replied that he had not.

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.