# NTSB NYC02LA124: Hunter A-28 Victor, N61450, Shelter Island, NY, June 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2002, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Shelter Island, NY - Coordinates: 41.066665, -72.349441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0667&lon=-72.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55045/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55045 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The twin engine tail-wheeled homebuilt airplane was departing a private grass strip. The pilot said that as the airplane lifted off the runway, it angled to left. He attempted to correct; however, the airplane banked to the right and made a sharp right turn. The pilot aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane settled to the ground off the side of the runway, and struck trees. The pilot added that the winds were calm at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported 295 hours of total flight experience, which included about 27 hours in multi-engine airplanes, all in make and model. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2002, about 0900 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt A-28 Victor, N61450, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Westmoreland Airport, Shelter Island, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The twin engine tail-wheeled airplane was taking off to the south, on a 1,400-foot long, 200-foot wide, turf runway. In a written statement, the pilot said that as the airplane lifted off the runway, it angled to left. He attempted to correct; however, the airplane banked to the right and made a sharp right turn. The pilot aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane settled to the ground off the right side of the runway, and struck trees. The pilot added that the winds were calm at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot reported 295 hours of total flight experience, which included about 27 hours in multi-engine airplanes, all in make and model. The pilot was not multi-engine rated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61450](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61450-2004-10-18), registration cancelled 2004-10-18, S/N SA-28-001, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hunter A-28 Victor - Registry model: [Hunter John R A-28 VICTOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/hunter-john-r-a-28-victor) (registry code 05611I7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: SA-28-001 - Airframe hours: 250 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating; Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ingo Pfotenhauer - Registered owner: Spectrum Aircraft Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 49NY, Shelter Island, NY - Airport: 49NY, Westmoreland, runway 18, 1,400 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 21, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 295 total, 27 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.53 inHg - Observed at: HTO, 8 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020620018129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020620018129A), Jun 20, 2002: Amtr A28VICTOR, Shelter Island, NY, No damage. (-23) While taking off to the south from a grass strip, the aircraft veered left at liftoff. The aircraft was heading toward trees left of the runway. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55045. 535 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 491 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Memorandum with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Memorandum%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.