Piper PA28 N7595R accident near De Pere, Wisconsin

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision not to abort the takeoff after the airplane encountered standing water on the runway, which decreased its speed and led to its subsequent inability to climb and resulted in a runway overrun.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he initiated a takeoff roll on the 2,200-ft-long wet, turf runway, and that, about 1,650 ft down the runway, the airplane encountered standing water, and the speed decreased. He reported that he "still felt I had plenty of room to regain airspeed and take off safely." The airplane encountered standing water again on another section of the runway, and the speed decreased further. The pilot retracted two notches of flaps and attempted to climb the airplane, but it exited the departure end of the runway and entered a cornfield.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA546 for the full record.