Five Lost When PA-32 Ran Off Runway

Authorities in southwestern Missouri have identified the five people killed Sunday when their Piper PA-32 skidded off the runway during an aborted take-off.

KWTX-TV in Waco (TX) reports the victims were:

• Steve Buchanan of Burleson, a 60-year-old former Dallas firefighter
• Buchanan's 37-year-old daughter, Lezli Graham of Arlington (TX)
• Lezli's 37-year-old husband, Byron Graham
• The Graham's 14-year-old daughter Kasey
• The Graham's three-year old son, Cade

The aircraft was taking off from the airport at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout (MO) when the pilot apparently tried to abort. There were heavy skid marks along the runway. He was unable to stop, however, and plunged off the end of the runway into a 50-foot ravine. The aircraft burst into flames.

FAA Preliminary Accident Report

IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 4230R    Make/Model: PA32   Description: PA-32 Cherokee Six, Six, Saratoga, Turbo
 Date: 08/02/2004   Time: 1451

 Event Type: Accident  Highest Injury: Fatal   Mid Air: N  Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
 City: POINT LOOKOUT        State: MO  Country: US

DESCRIPTION
 ACFT ON DEPARTURE, LOST POWER AND WENT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO AN
 EMBANKMENT AND CAUGHT FIRE, THE FIVE PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED
 AND THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, POINT LOOKOUT, MO

INJURY DATA   Total Fatal:  5
         # Crew:  1  Fat:  1   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Pass:  4   Fat:  4   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 
         # Grnd:       Fat:  0   Ser:  0   Min:  0   Unk: 

WEATHER: SGF 021452Z14005KT10SM CLR26/22A3004                   
                                          
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown   Phase: Take-off   Operation: General Aviation

 Departed: POINT LOOKOUT, MO      Dep Date: 08/02/2004  Dep. Time: 1451
 Destination: CLEBURN, TX       Flt Plan: NONE     Wx Briefing: Y
 Last Radio Cont: UNK
 Last Clearance: UNK

 FAA FSDO: KANSAS CITY, MO (CE05)        Entry date: 08/03/2004

FMI: www.ntsb.gov