CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE
Plane Crashes During Take Off From Billy Mitchell Airstrip
Rangers in the Hatteras District were notified by of a non-injury plane crash at Billy Mitchell airstrip on the morning of Sunday, December 6th. The strip is a state-maintained, day use airfield located within the park’s boundaries. Rangers Brad Griest and Jeff Goad responded. Griest contacted Charles Cole, the pilot of the aircraft, a Piper Saratoga, and found that he was okay and that there were no fuel leaks. Cole said that an alarm went off in the Piper as he approached takeoff speed (about 90 mph). When he attempted to slow the plane down, the right side toe brake failed, causing it to run off the left side of the runway. It continued for about a tenth of a mile before the left wing struck a cedar tree and a sand dune, causing the Piper to spin 90 degrees. The plane then came to rest in low brush just off the runway. Cole said that the weather was not a factor, as he was taking off into a headwind/crosswind from the north at 9 to 13 mph. The FAA was advised of the incident and the airport was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation and clean-up.
Contact Information
Name: Paul Stevens, Chief Ranger
Plane Crashes During Take Off From Billy Mitchell Airstrip
Rangers in the Hatteras District were notified by of a non-injury plane crash at Billy Mitchell airstrip on the morning of Sunday, December 6th. The strip is a state-maintained, day use airfield located within the park’s boundaries. Rangers Brad Griest and Jeff Goad responded. Griest contacted Charles Cole, the pilot of the aircraft, a Piper Saratoga, and found that he was okay and that there were no fuel leaks. Cole said that an alarm went off in the Piper as he approached takeoff speed (about 90 mph). When he attempted to slow the plane down, the right side toe brake failed, causing it to run off the left side of the runway. It continued for about a tenth of a mile before the left wing struck a cedar tree and a sand dune, causing the Piper to spin 90 degrees. The plane then came to rest in low brush just off the runway. Cole said that the weather was not a factor, as he was taking off into a headwind/crosswind from the north at 9 to 13 mph. The FAA was advised of the incident and the airport was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation and clean-up.
Contact Information
Name: Paul Stevens, Chief Ranger
