- Date
- December 7, 1993, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Myers, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4391CPiper PA-46-301P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931207046339A
- Case key
- 37469
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 failure of the pilot-in-command to abort the takeoff. A contributing factor was the soft condition of the runway surface.
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 stated that he was attempting a takeoff on a 2,700 foot sod runway and hit a soft spot which decreased his groundspeed by 15 to 20 miles per hour. He continued the takeoff attempt and struck trees at the end of the runway. The airplane fell to the ground and burst into flames.
Factual narrative
On December 7, 1993, about 1530, eastern standard time, N4391C, a Piper PA-46-301P, registered to Daniel G. Maloney crashed on takeoff attempt at Fort Myers, Florida, while initiating a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot and four passengers reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he was attempting to take off on a 2,700-foot sod runway and hit a soft spot about half way on the takeoff roll. He stated he did not abort the takeoff but continued. As the airplane lifted off, both wings hit trees and the airplane fell to the ground and burst into flames. The pilot and all the passengers evacuated the airplane immediately without receiving thermal injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4391C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-46-301P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46-8508053
- Engine
- Continental TIO-520-EB, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wyatt, James F.
- Registered owner
- Maloney, Daniel G.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- TMB · Miami, FL
- Airport
- Morning Star, runway 9, 2,675 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,700 total · 125 in this make and model · 3,600 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FMY
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.