- Date
- June 26, 1995, 08:55 local (12:55 UTC)
- Place
- Brooksville, FL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3431WPiper PA-32-260
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950626014919A
- Case key
- 37785
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
A loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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
Witnesses stated they observed the airplane on the takeoff roll lift off at least three times. The airplane then lifted off, and another pilot-rated witness observed the airplane in an extremely nose-high attitude with the engine sounding like it was at a high power setting. The airplane then crashed into trees at the end of the runway. The engine and flight controls were examined and no preaccident malfunctions were found. The cargo could not be weighed due to postcrash consumption. The surviving pilot-rated passenger stated that the engine lost power after liftoff.
Factual narrative
On June 26, 1995 about 0925 eastern daylight time, N3431W, operated by the pilot, and registered to SPSN Corporation, crashed on takeoff attempt in Brooksville, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. One passenger received serious injuries and three received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time.
Witnesses stated they observed the airplane on takeoff roll, lift off at least three times. The airplane then lifted off and another pilot-rated witness observed the airplane in an extremely nose-high attitude with the engine sounding like it was at a high power setting.The airplane then struck trees and crashed. There was a postcrash fire.
Examination of the wreckage and engine by FAA inspectors revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions in the engine, airplane, or flight controls. The FAA inspectors were not able to weigh the cargo due to postcrash fire consumption.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3431W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-292
- Airframe hours
- 3,500
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Spsn Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 31, 1994 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- X05 · FL
- Destination
- FXE · Ft Lauderdale, FL
- Airport
- X05 · Pilot Country, runway 36, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 20
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 270 total · 80 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BKV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.