# Accident 20030608017589A: Piper PA28140, Aurora, NY, June 8, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 8, 2003, 19:00 local time
- Place: Aurora, NY
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7117° N, 76.6217° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7117&lon=-76.6217&mi=10
- Aircraft: N560FL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N560FL-2004-07-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 170 total, 15 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030608017589A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 8, 2003, ABOUT 1900 EDT, A PIPER PA-28-140, N560FL, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP IN LEDYARD, NY. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. DURING AN INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A NORMAL ENGINE RUN-UP, AND MADE A ROLLING TAKEOFF TO THE SOUTH, ON HIS 2,000-FOOT-LONG, 60-FOOT-WIDE, GRASS RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONFIGURED WITH "TWO NOTCHES" OF FLAPS, HE ROTATED AT 60 MPH, AND CLIMBED AT 75 MPH. THE PILOT THEN REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE 50-FOOT-HIGH TREES LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE TREES, THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN; HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A FIELD. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, AND "EVERYTHING SEEMED PERFECTLY NORMAL." WINDS REPORTED AT AN AIRPORT ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AT 1853, WERE FROM 150 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, WITH 17 KNOT GUSTS.

## 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 NYC03LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA124), Jun 8, 2003: Piper PA-28-140 (N560FL), Aurora, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to obtain the proper climb rate.

## Other reports on N560FL (1)

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

- [Incident 19790418024199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790418024199I), Apr 18, 1979: Piper PA28140 (N560FL), Owls Head, ME, Minor damage. Aircraft nosed down after takeoff, struck runway with nose wheel and prop. No mechanical defects.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.