- Date
- September 11, 1993, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place
- Byfield, MA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4898TPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930911033939A
- Case key
- 8817
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
Loss of engine power during climb for undetermined reasons.
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 pilot reported that he had completed his pre-takeoff and run-up checks successfully. He was taking off from a private field, and as the airplane was about 250 feet above the ground the RPM dropped from full RPM to idle RPM. He tried to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. He stated that he pulled back on the yoke to cushion the impact as the airplane struck some pine trees during the forced landing. There were several witnesses who heard the airplane's engine sound intermittently during takeoff before it impacted the trees. The FAA examined the airplane and reported that the left and right fuel tanks contained 25 gallons and 5 gallons respectively. The fuel selector was on the left tank.
Factual narrative
On Saturday, September 11, 1993, at 1310 eastern daylight time, N4898T, a Piper PA-28-180, owned and operated by Arthur Allen of Byfield, Massachusetts, collided with trees during a power-off forced landing at a private airstrip in Byfield, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Lawrence, Massachusetts.
According to the pilot, he was taking off from a private airstrip when the engine lost power. He reported that the pretakeoff checks and run-up were completed successfully. He stated that he used 2 notches of flaps and the airplane was accelerated to climb speed of 80 knots. He reported that about 250 feet above the ground, the rpm dropped from full rpm to idle power. He tried to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. The right wing struck the chimney of a house and came to rest in the trees.
There were several witnesses who reported hearing the airplane's engine sound intermittently during the initial climb. The airplane was examined by the FAA and the investigation revealed that the left and right fuel tanks contained 25 gallons and 5 gallons respectively. The fuel selector was found selected to the left tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4898T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7205220
- Airframe hours
- 2,824
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Arthur G Allen
- Registered owner
- Arthur G Allen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1993 · 13 hours before
- Airport
- NONE · Manter Field, runway 5, 1,700 × 25 ft, macadam
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,119 total · 1,059 in this make and model · 1,063 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BVY, 10 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.