- Date
- July 7, 2004, 17:18 local (21:18 UTC)
- Place
- Jaffrey, NH
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2489MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 28, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20040707017169A
- Case key
- 59583
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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
During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot observed that the airplane was not climbing, and the rpm gauge needle was dropping. Realizing there was not a suitable area ahead to land, the pilot elected to return to the runway. During the turn back to the runway, the airplane descended into trees. Witnesses observed the airplane arrived at the airport about 20 minutes prior to the accident. Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any abnormalities. The temperature and dew point recorded at the airport, about the time of the accident were 80 and 52 degrees respectively. A review of a FAA carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious at glide power" area of the chart.
Factual narrative
On July 7, 2004, at 1718 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N2489M, was substantially damaged after departing from the Jaffery Airport (AFN), Jaffery, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, upon arriving at Jaffery, he topped-off the wing tanks with approximately 13 gallons of aviation fuel. The pilot then started the airplane and taxied to runway 16 for departure. The takeoff "seemed normal," until the airplane felt like it was not climbing. The pilot observed that the rpm gauge needle was dropping, and checked the carburetor heat and mixture controls. Realizing there was not a suitable area ahead to land, the pilot elected to return to the runway. During the turn back to the runway, the airplane descended into trees.
Witnesses observed the airplane arrive at the airport at 1655, and requested a top-off. After refueling the airplane, a witness observed the airplane depart from runway 16, and climb to 100 feet above the ground. The airplane then banked to the left, and descended into trees near the end of the runway.
Examination of the engine and fuel system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any abnormalities.
Fuel samples from the airport were examined and absent of debris.
The temperature and dew point recorded at the airport, about the time of the accident were 80 and 52 degrees respectively.
A review of a FAA carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious at glide power" area of the chart.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2489M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1977-15
- Airframe hours
- 2,093
- Engine
- Lycoming O-253-C-1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Michael C. Meagher
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2003 · 27 hours before
- Departed
- AFN · Jaffrey, NH
- Airport
- AFN · Jaffery Airport, runway 16, 2,982 × 134 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
- 56
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 10, 2003
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 490 total · 18 in this make and model · 436 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- AFN
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.