- Date
- January 11, 2000, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place
- Bradford, PA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9103NPiper PA-46-310P
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000111006549A
- Case key
- 48483
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 pilot's inadequate ice/frost removal from the aircraft.
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 applied anti-ice to the boot areas of the wings, before starting the engine. During the takeoff roll, two passengers observed snow flying off the outboard sections of the wings, but the snow remained adhered to the inboard sections of the wings. The airplane settled back onto the runway, overran the runway end, and struck a fence.
Factual narrative
On January 11, 2000, about 0715 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA-46-310P, N9103N, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Bradford Regional Airport (BFD), Bradford, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight destined for Concord Regional Airport, Concord, North Carolina. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that when he arrived at the airport, there was a light snowfall. He applied anti-ice to the boot areas of the wings, before starting the engine. As he taxied to Runway 23, the snowfall increased. The pilot initiated a takeoff roll and rotated, but the airplane ascended a few feet, "...then stalled back onto the runway." It overran the runway, and the right wing struck a mound of dirt. The right wing separated from the airplane, and caught fire. The left wing struck a fence post, and the airplane came to rest approximately 320 feet beyond the fence post. The pilot added that he did not notice snow on the wings. However, two of the passengers later told him that during the takeoff roll, snow was flying off the outboard sections of the wings, but remained adhered to the inboard sections of the wings.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
The reported weather at BFD, at 0708 was: wind from 260 degrees at 6 knots; visibility 1.25 statute miles; light snow; mist; ceiling 700 feet overcast; temperature 34 degrees Fahrenheit; dewpoint 30 degrees; altimeter 29.40 inches of Hg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9103N
- Reported as
- Piper PA-46-310P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 460821
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert T Harris
- Registered owner
- Olean Keystone Tool & Die
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 10, 2000 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- BFD
- Destination
- JQF · Concord, NC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BFD · Bradford Regional Airport, runway 23, 4,500 × 100 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
- 67
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,300 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 1.25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BFD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9103N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.