# NTSB BFO84FA008: Piper PA-28-140, N75122, Bayse, VA, September 23, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1984, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Bayse, VA
- Coordinates: 38.830711, -78.799926 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8307&lon=-78.7999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO84FA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11108/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO84FA008

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER ROLLING ONLY ABOUT 1500 FT. IT WAS DESCRIBED A BEING 'BEHIND THE POWER CURVE' FOR A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE BEFORE CLIMBING ABRUPTLY. THE ACFT THEN BANKED STEEPLY TO THE LEFT & COLLIDED WITH A RIDGE AT APRX 1840 FT MSL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 1263 FT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS APRX 75 LBS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT DURING TAKEOFF. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 3000 FT. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED THAT IT HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.158% (158 MG%), APRX 3 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. A CHECK OF THE RGT FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.246% (246 MG%).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75122](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75122-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 28-7625201, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7625201
- Airframe hours: 1684
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Roger A. Sawtell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 1984, 38 hours before
- Departed: W92, BAYSE, VA
- Destination: GAI, GAITHERSBURG, MD
- Airport: Sky Bryce, runway 23, 2,240 × 50 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 322 total, 154 in this make and model, 266 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRB, 50 nm away

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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