# NTSB NYC84FA024: Piper PA-23-250, N4708P, West Seneca, NY, November 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 9, 1983, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: West Seneca, NY
- Coordinates: 42.839611, -78.749946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8396&lon=-78.7499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35292
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35292/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA024

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly - failure,partial (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency procedure - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS BEING REPOSITIONED BY THE OWNER FROM A MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT BUFFALO INTL ARPT TO BUFFALO AIRPARK. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT BOTH LOCATIONS WHO HAD DEALT WITH THE OWNER INDICATED HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO CUT COSTS BY PERFORMING UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS HIMSELF. THESE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETE PRIOR TO DEPARTING BUFFALO INTL. THE PLT OF N4708P ABORTED HIS FIRST TKOF STATING TO THE TWR '...I HAD A LITTLE MISS.' WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THE SECOND TKOF THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ABT 50 FT THEN LOST ALT WITH THE NOSE PITCHING DOWN. THE RATE OF DESCENT WAS ARRESTED BEFORE GD CONTACT AND A SLOW 'MUSHY' CLIMB WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT NEVER EXCEEDED 300 FT ALT IN THE 5 MILE FLT TO BUFFALO AIRPARK. IT WAS OBSVD BY THE TWR SUPERVISOR TO OSCILLATE NOSE UP AND DOWN AFT EXTENDING THE LNDG GR FOLLOWED BY ROLLING TO THE RT AND SPINNING INTO THE GD APPROX 1 MILE E OF BUFFALO AIRPARK. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROX 50 HOURS TIME IN PA-23'S, 28 HOURS AS PIC AND 5 HOURS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4708P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4708P-2013-04-18), registration cancelled 2013-04-18, S/N 27-237, built 1960 (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 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 237
- Airframe hours: 6366
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dsh Aviation Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 20, 1982, 23 hours before
- Departed: BUF, BUFFALO, NY
- Destination: 9G0, WEST SENECA, NY
- Airport: 9G0, Buffalo Airpark, runway 24, 2,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 375 total, 50 in this make and model, 225 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUF, 5 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 19831109056709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831109056709A), Nov 9, 1983: Piper PA23250, West Seneca, NY, Destroyed. Aircraft stalled and crashed as landing gear was lowered for landing. Aircraft had apparent engine problem.

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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