# NTSB ATL91FA051: Piper PA-23-250, N6247Y, Liberty, NC, February 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 7, 1991, 06:40 local (11:40 UTC)
- Place: Liberty, NC
- Coordinates: 35.849868, -79.569595 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8499&lon=-79.5696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 24, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8311
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8311/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA051

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE-OF-CLIMB AFTER LIFT-OFF.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LOW CEILING, FOG, AND THE PILOT'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN A PIPER PA-23.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - proper climb rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

IMMEDIATELY AFTER A NIGHT TAKEOFF IN FOGGY CONDITIONS, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES 1560 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINES SOUNDED NORMAL & 'IN SYNC.'  THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE VISIBILITY WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 1/2 MI WITH PATCHY GROUND FOG.  THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK SHOWED 3 FLIGHTS IN A PIPER PA-23 DURING 1990 FOR A TOTAL TIME OF 5.5 HRS, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS IN JUNE OF 1990.  HOWEVER, THE PILOT RECEIVED A 1-HR FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT IN THE AIRPLANE 3 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6247Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6247Y-1991-06-05), registration cancelled 1991-06-05, S/N 273484 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-3484
- Airframe hours: 5712
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc
- Registered owner: Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc
- Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 1990, 165 hours before
- Destination: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 2A5, Causey, runway 2, 3,005 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,482 total, 7 in this make and model, 2,395 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GS0, 19 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910207001689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910207001689A), Feb 7, 1991: Piper PA23250, Liberty, NC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees off end runway at night in dense fog. Trim and flaps full down. Was hired as pilot from FBO for flight

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.

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