Piper PA 16 accident near Hartwell, Georgia, April 22, 2015
On April 22, 2015 at about 1:50 pm local time, a 1949 Piper PA 16, registered N5616H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hartwell, Georgia (Airnautique, INC. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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 directional control during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2015 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hartwell, Georgia · Airnautique, INC. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 16 NO SERIES, built 1949 · all PA 16s on the register
- Registration
- N5616H · no longer on the register · serial 16-224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that about 700 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift left as he approached the narrowest part of the runway. The airplane departed the runway to the left, impacted trees, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot and sole passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 57 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 A2B (piston); 7,100 hours total
- Operator: Mountain Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: 0GA2 Hartwell GA at 1:50 pm
- Destination: EOE Newberry SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KAND, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 3, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.