# NTSB NYC83LA158: Piper PA-23-250, N6638Y, Pittsfield, MA, June 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1983, 17:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Pittsfield, MA
- Location: 42.4501° N, 73.2454° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pittsfield, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4501&lon=-73.2454&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35215
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83LA158
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35215/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA158

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear retraction - intentional, dual student (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON THE 1ST TAKEOFF, THE CFI DEMONSTRATED AN ABORTED TAKEOFF BY PLACING THE RT SELECTOR GASOLINE VALVE IN THE OFF POSITION AND HAD THE STUDENT PULL THE ENG BACK, MAKING A LANDING ON THE RWY. THE FLT THEN TAXIED BACK FOR ANOTHER TAKEOFF, AGAIN THE CFI SHUT OFF THE RT GAS TANK, THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AND THE ENG QUIT. THE STUDENT HAD RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE SEQUENCE AND THE ACFT LANDED GEAR-UP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6638Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6638Y-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 27-3950, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 273950
- Airframe hours: 7092
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540LB 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: James C. Stalker
- Registered owner: Berkshire Aviation Ent. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 25, 1983, 52 hours before
- Departed: GBR, GREAT BARRINGTN, MA
- Destination: PSF, PITTSFIELD, MA
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: PSG, Pittsfield, runway 20, 3,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,103 total, 447 in this make and model, 1,843 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PSF

## 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 19830629027529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830629027529A), Jun 29, 1983: Piper PA23250, Pittsfield, MA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during aborted takeoff, flight instructor turned fuel selector off.

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.

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