# NTSB IAD04CA042: Piper PA-24-180, N7573P, Ocean City, NJ, August 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 29, 2004, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Ocean City, NJ - Coordinates: 39.263332, -74.61222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2633&lon=-74.6122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 60012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD04CA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04CA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's deliberate delay of rotation during the takeoff roll, and his subsequent loss of directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - rotation - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - other ## Analysis The airplane veered left immediately after takeoff from runway 24. After departing the runway to the left, the pilot encountered a wind tetrahedron in his path. He attempted to pull up and over fly the tetrahedron, but struck it with the belly of the airplane. He reduced power and completed a landing to the grass infield of the airport. The pilot said that he felt the loss of directional control was due to a phenomenon called "wheelbarrowing," and that the PA-24 is susceptible to its effects. He further stated he felt the event was due to pilot error and was not a maintenance problem. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook: "Holding the airplane on the ground unnecessarily puts excessive pressure on the nosewheel, (and) may result in wheelbarrowing..." ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2004, at 1620 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N7573P, was substantially damaged when it collided with a wind tetrahedron after a loss of directional control during takeoff from the Ocean City Municipal Airport (26N), Ocean City, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Ocean City, destined for Indian Head, Maryland (2W5). No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said that he performed weight and balance calculations for the airplane prior to departing Indian Head, Maryland, for the flight to Ocean City. He reasoned that the airplane was still within limits for the takeoff from Ocean City because the weight of the fuel consumed during the flight from Maryland could be subtracted from the total weight of the airplane. The airplane veered left during takeoff from runway 24. After departing the runway to the left, the pilot encountered the wind tetrahedron in his path. He attempted to "pull up" and over fly the tetrahedron, but struck it with the belly of the airplane. He reduced power and completed a landing to the grass infield of the airport. The pilot said that he felt the loss of directional control was due to a phenomenon called "wheelbarrowing," and that the PA-24 is susceptible its effects. He further stated, "I feel that this (event) was due to pilot error and not a maintenance problem. The aircraft was performing within all the green parameters at the time of the accident." According to the Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook: "Holding the airplane on the ground unnecessarily puts excessive pressure on the nosewheel, (and) may result in wheelbarrowing..." According to the Danbury Flight School, Danbury, Connecticut: "Wheelbarrowing may cause loss of directional control... (as) the airplane tends to swerve or pivot on the nosewheel, particularly in crosswind conditions." The weather reported at the Atlantic City International Airport, 12 miles north of the crash site, at 1356, included winds from 170 degrees at 11 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, and a few clouds at 2,100 feet. The temperature was 81 degrees Fahrenheit, the dew point 71 degrees Fahrenheit, and the barometric pressure was 29.99 inches of mercury. The density altitude was 1,669 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7573P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7573P), registered now, S/N 24-2783, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2783 - Airframe hours: 3125 - Engines: Lycoming O-369 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John H. Purcell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2004, 14 hours before - Departed: 26N, OCEAN CITY, NJ - Destination: 2W5, INDIAN HEAD, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 26N, Ocean City Muni, runway 24, 2,973 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 20, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,221 total, 13 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: 26N ## 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 20040829026939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040829026939A), Aug 29, 2004: Piper PA24180, Ocean City, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) On departure from runway 24 at Ocean City Municipal Airport, the aircraft broke ground and veered to the left and struck a wind tee, located between the… ## Other investigations on N7573P (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA26LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA147), Mar 11, 2026: Piper PA24-180 (N7573P), Leonardtown, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during a crosswind takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a drainage ditch. 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.