Piper PA-28-181 accident near Manchester, Kentucky, June 19, 1997
On June 19, 1997 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2111G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manchester, Kentucky (Sky Airport). 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 delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor in the accident was the high, wet grassy runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1997 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Kentucky · Sky Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2111G · registry record · serial 28-7990416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted a takeoff from a 2,300 foot long runway, with 3 inch high wet grass. He incorporated short field takeoff techniques and used 25 degrees of flaps. During the takeoff roll, flying speed was not obtained, and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, he applied brakes and retracted the flaps; however the airplane continued down the wet grass, contacted a ditch and impacted a tree. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
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: 1,345 hours in all; 990 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,298 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1996; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from LOZ, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 NYC97LA122.