- Date
- February 5, 2000, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alton Bay, NH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6577PPiper PA-24
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000205023549A
- Case key
- 48587
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 failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions.
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 departed runway 01, an ice runway. During the takeoff, the airplane pulled to the left, and the pilot applied full right rudder to 'straighten out the path.' After rotation, the airplane impacted a snow bank and the pilot 'lost all control of the plane.' The pilot did not receive a weather briefing prior to his departure; however, he reported 'swirly, gusty winds' at the airport. Witnesses at the airport reported that the airplane's takeoff roll was much shorter than other airplanes. Approximately 20 feet off the ground, the airplane 'bobbled, stalled, and descended rapidly,' impacting a snow bank to the left of the runway.
Factual narrative
On February 5, 2000, about 1500 Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA-24, N6577P, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Alton Bay Seaplane Base (B18), Alton Bay, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he departed runway 01, a 3,500 foot long "ice runway." He reported that during the takeoff, the airplane "pulled to the left," and he applied full right rudder to "straighten out the path." After rotation, the airplane impacted a snow bank and the pilot "lost all control of the plane." The pilot stated he did not receive a weather briefing prior to his departure; however, he reported "swirly, gusty winds" at the airport.
Witnesses at the airport reported that the airplane's takeoff roll was much shorter than other airplanes. Approximately 20 feet off the ground, the airplane "bobbled, stalled, and descended rapidly," impacting a snow bank to the left of the runway.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the left wing of the airplane was destroyed; however, it remained attached to the fuselage. The right wing and the firewall were buckled, and both fuel tanks were intact and contained fuel.
The winds reported at an airport 20 miles away were from a heading of 300 at 12 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6577P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-1699
- Airframe hours
- 3,926
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bradford Randlett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 12, 1999 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- B18
- Destination
- OWD · Norwood, MA
- Airport
- B18 · Alton Bay Seaplane Base, runway 1, 3,500 × 100 ft, ice
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
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 611 total · 69 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 32 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CON, 20 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.