- Date
- December 3, 1995, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Myers, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8888XPiper PA-46
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951203039449A
- Case key
- 37966
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 maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate amount of rudder input to compensate for engine torque during takeoff.
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 during the takeoff roll he applied normal right rudder to compensate for engine torque. The airplane did not respond to the pilot input and drifted to the left. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane went onto the grass at the left side of the runway. The airplane then collided with a small ditch and the nose gear collapsed.
Factual narrative
On December 3, 1995, about 1615 eastern standard time a Piper PA-46, N8888X, registered to a private owner crashed during takeoff from the Fort Myers Page Field Airport, Fort Myers, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The instrument-rated private pilot and one passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, he applied normal right rudder and the airplane did not respond. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane went into the grass on the left side of the runway. The nose gear impacted a small ditch and collapsed. The propeller strike and cowling damage were verified, and no other damages were verified by the pilot.
Further examination of the airplane by an airframe and power plant mechanic revealed damages to the nose gear, propeller, gear doors, lower cowl, firewall, and the forward section of the fuselage.
Initially this case was reported as an incident, but was subsequently classified as an accident based upon inspection and damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8888X
- Reported as
- Piper PA-46
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4622078
- Airframe hours
- 470
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lloyd E. Register
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- FMY
- Destination
- ORL · Orlando, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- FMY · Page Field, runway 31, 4,997 × 150 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
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,394 total · 425 in this make and model · 1,394 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 57 °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.