Piper PA-28-180 N7317W accident near Ocilla, Georgia

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot turned the airplane to the right immediately after liftoff from the dirt strip to avoid a tree in its flight path. According to the pilot, the engine stopped producing power, the stall warning activated, and the airplane remained in a right bank until ground contact. The airplane came to rest upright in a cultivated field less than 1/2 mile from the departure strip. Photographs taken by first responders revealed significant tip-curling, leading edge gouging, and chord-wise scratching of both propeller blades, which was consistent with engine power at the time of impact. There was no visible evidence of an in-flight or post-crash fire. The airplane was recovered from the field, and a detailed examination of the airframe and powerplant revealed no evidence of pre-impact anomalies.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11LA289 for the full record.