# Accident 20000108028989A: Piper PA32R301T, Harpswell, ME, January 8, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 8, 2000, 21:00 local time
- Place: Harpswell, ME
- Airport: Farr Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7787° N, 70.0131° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FARR FLD (ME33), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7787&lon=-70.0131&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8463X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8463X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-301T (registry code 7103220, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R301T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540S1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,625 total, 2,475 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA065) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000108028989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 32, AN UNLIGHTED TURF RUNWAY ON A DARK NIGHT. WHEN HE ROTATED, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE TREES ON THE SIDES OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE RUNWAY AHEAD.  THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE TAKEOFF AND CLIMBED TO ALTITUDE.  HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS NOT CERTAIN IF THE WIND DRIFTED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT, OR HE INITIATED A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN. WINDS IN THE AREA WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 TO 220 DEGREES AT 10 TO 14 KNOTS.  UPON LANDING AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS BENT REARWARD, AND THE SPAR OF THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR HAD BEEN BENT REARWARD.  (-23) PILOT DEPARTED PRIVATE FIELD IN HARPSWELL, ME AND STRUCK TREES ON DEPARTURE. PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO PORTLAND, ME.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC00LA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA065), Jan 9, 2000: Piper PA-32R-301T (N8463X), Harpswell, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: was the improper decision of the pilot to depart at night, from an unlighted runway with no visual references to obstructions on the sides of the runway. Factors were the dark night conditions, and…

## Other reports on N8463X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19820119070259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820119070259I), Jan 19, 1982: Piper PA32R301T (N8463X), Denver, CO, Minor damage. Neglected to turn on master switch to extend gear. Landed gear up. Had switch off due to leaking fuel flow gauge.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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