- Date
- May 20, 1992, 21:50 local (May 21, 1992, 01:50 UTC)
- Place
- Morrisville, VT
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2950KPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920520015509A
- Case key
- 11793
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 pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the terrain. Contributing to the accident was a dark night and the lack of familiarity with the geographic area.
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.
Analysis
The accident occurred at night over three miles from the departure airport and about five minutes after takeoff. This was the pilot's first takeoff from this airport, having flown there earlier that day. According to the pilot, he used 25 degrees of flaps for takeoff, and then climbed at 60 knots. He said during the departure from the airport,'the surroundings got darker and darker.' As he climbed through 1000 feet MSL he gradually raised the flaps and increased speed to 80 knots. He climbed north, direct to the montpieler VOR. The pilot said he was 'amazed how dark it was, barely able to distinguish the horizon.' He then saw trees ahead in the path of the airplane, which he unsuccessfully tried to avoid by pulling back on the control wheel. The pilot stated that the stall warning horn sounded just as the airplane struck trees. The airplane fell to the ground and a fire erupted after the pilot and passengers exited the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2950K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7916574
- Airframe hours
- 4,908
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D36, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Beverly Flight Center
- Registered owner
- Beverly Flight Center
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 21, 1992 · 30 hours before
- Destination
- BVY · Beverly, MA
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 250 total · 150 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BTV, 26 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.