- Date
- May 21, 1990, 10:09 local (14:09 UTC)
- Place
- Frankfort, KY
- Injuries
- 6 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5661FPiper PA-32R-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900521016859A
- Case key
- 8130
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to operate the aircraft within the center of gravity limitations of the aircraft.
Analysis
The airline transport pilot and his five passengers were attempting to depart runway 24 at Frankfort, Kentucky. According to witnesses, during the takeoff the tail appeared to be dragging the runway, and sparks were observed coming from the tail of the aircraft. After takeoff, the aircraft was flying with a nose up pitch attitude of about 30 degrees and hanging on the propeller. The engine appeared to be running smoothly, and at a high RPM. At about the end of the runway, the aircraft began a left turn, rolled inverted and crashed. Weight and balance calculations showed the aircraft's center of gravity exceeded the aft center of gravity limit.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5661F
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32R-7780015
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1G5B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Burgess & Niple
- Registered owner
- Donald B. Uldricks
- Destination
- OWB · Owensboro, KY
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FFT · Capital City, runway 24, 5,005 × 100 ft
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 10,660 total · 10,660 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Observed at
- LEX, 16 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.