Runway excursion involving a Piper PA-23-250, VH-EGA, 10 km north-west of Maitland (Luskintyre), New South Wales, on 25 April 1997

The pilot had planned the flight for an early morning departure from a private airstrip. He had calculated the take-off weight, with four passengers, to be below the maximum allowable for the take-off length available. The weather was fine and clear, with a light crosswind on the gently down sloping grass strip selected for take-off. The grass had been mown short but was wet from a heavy dew.

During the take-off run the pilot became concerned that the aircraft was not accelerating normally, so he closed the throttles and applied maximum braking. However, he was unable to stop the aircraft before it overran the strip end and collided with a fence, rupturing a fuel tank and causing minor damage to the engine cowlings and landing gear doors.

No defects were found with the aircraft that may have affected its performance. It is likely that the wet grass would have increased the take-off distance required and also decreased the aircraft's braking efficiency when the take-off was rejected.