# NTSB BFO94LA148: Piper PA -28-181, N11HK, Skowhegan, ME, August 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 1994, 06:35 local (10:35 UTC) - Place: Skowhegan, ME - Location: 44.7155° N, 69.8665° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CENTRAL MAINE/NORRIDGEWOCK (OWK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7155&lon=-69.8665&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8968 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8968/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA148 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to do a go around which resulted in an inflight collision with trees during a delayed aborted landing to avoid a runway overrun. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE VOLUNTEER, AIRLIFE PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. HE STATED THAT UPON ARRIVAL AT HIS DESTINATION HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT AND HE SELECTED RUNWAY 3 AS THERE WAS SOME FOG IN THE AREA, BUT RUNWAY 3 WAS CLEAR OF FOG. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH AS HE PASSED OVER THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 3 AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INCREASED THE POWER TO GO-AROUND, BUT AS HE STARTED HIS GO-AROUND THE RUNWAY CAME INTO SIGHT AGAIN, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, HE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING SO HE TRIED TO GO-AROUND AGAIN. DURING THE CLIMB OUT AT ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 1994, at 0635 eastern daylight time, N11HK, a Piper PA 28-181, owned and operated by Paul D. Spiro of Abington, Massachusetts, collided with trees during takeoff at Central Maine Airport of Norridgewock, Maine. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The business flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and had originated in Norwood, Massachusetts. According to the pilot, he was going to Maine to pick up a patient and take him to Boston, Massachusetts, for treatment. The pilot, a volunteer airlife pilot stated that he overflew the field and selected runway 3 for the landing as that runway was clear of fog. He stated that as the airplane was about 30 to 50 feet above the approach end of the runway, he lost sight of the runway due to the ground fog. The pilot stated that he increased the power to go-around, but as he started his go-around the runway came into sight again, so he decided to land. The pilot stated that during the landing, he realized that there was not enough runway remaining so he tried to go around again. During the climb out at about 20 feet above the ground, the airplane struck trees at the departure end and fell to the ground. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11HK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11HK-1996-06-06), registration cancelled 1996-06-06, S/N 288190270 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA -28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8190270 - Airframe hours: 2059 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 181 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Paul D Spiro - Registered owner: Paul D Spiro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 1993, 69 hours before - Departed: OWD, NORWOOD, MA - Destination: OWK, NORRIDGEWOCK, ME - Airport: OWK, Central Maine Airport, runway 3, 3,998 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 960 total, 700 in this make and model, 860 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AUG, 23 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 19940825023269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940825023269A), Aug 25, 1994: Piper PA28181, Norridgewock, ME, Substantial damage. Lost runway on approach due to fog then saw runway. Elected to land. Too FAR down. Began go around, struck trees. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.