# NTSB IAD98LA113: Piper PA-28-140, N32583, Salem, NJ, July 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 1998, 12:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Salem, NJ - Location: 39.5682° N, 75.4726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salem, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5682&lon=-75.4726&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 7, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45187 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45187/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the reeds. A related factor was the wind gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with 10 foot tall, dense swamp reeds, 100 feet beyond the departure end of the runway shortly after takeoff. The airplane rotated 180 degrees, struck tail first and ended up inverted in the swamp. According to the pilot, his airspeed during climb out was 'normal' at 70 knots. He said he cleared the end of the 2,300 foot long, grass runway, when a gust of wind (wind shear) caused the airplane to drop about 10 to 15 feet. He said there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 1998, at 1252 eastern daylight time, N32583, a Piper PA-28-140, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from the Salem Airport, Salem, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The intended destination was Troy, New York. According to the pilot, his airspeed during climb out was "normal" at 70 knots. He said he cleared the end of the 2,300 foot long, grass runway, when a gust of wind (wind shear) caused the airplane to drop about 10 to 15 feet. The airplane struck 10 foot tall, dense swamp reeds, 100 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. He said, "the airplane rotated 180 degrees, struck tail first and ended up inverted in swamp." Due to the inaccessibility of the wreckage, and lack of examination, a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector initially classified it as an incident; however, an aerial examination later revealed that the fuselage was broken in half, and it was then upgraded to an accident on October 5, 1998. According to a Piper PA-28-140 airplane flight manual, the takeoff distance Vs density altitude at a density altitude of 2,000 feet required a ground run of 900 feet. The distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle would be about 2,000 feet. The pilot reported over 1,210 hours of total flight experience. He said that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine. He said the reported winds at the time of the accident were from the southwest at 6 to 10 knots, with gusts to 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32583](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32583-2000-06-12), registration cancelled 2000-06-12, S/N 28-7525087 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7525087 - Airframe hours: 2800 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas F Zimmie - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1997, 40 hours before - Departed: 27N - Destination: 5B7, RENSSELAER, NY - Airport: 27N, Salem Airport, runway 33, 2,200 × 180 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,210 total, 530 in this make and model, 1,140 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ILG, 12 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 19980729040029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980729040029A), Jul 29, 1998: Piper PA28140, Salem, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that after taking off from a 2300' private airfield he encountered a gush of wind which caused him to crash into a swamp at the end of… 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.