- Date
- August 11, 1984, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Seven Springs, PA
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9202YPiper PA-31-350
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840811040049A
- Case key
- 35733
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
After refueling, the plt took off from a 3000 ft rwy located in a mountainous region. He reported that after a normal rotation & lift-off, he established a positive rate of climb. However, shortly after takeoff, during gear retraction, the acft began to settle. According to the plt, this occurred when he encountered either a strong downdraft or a windshear condition. Trees became visible & the plt increased the pitch attitude, but the acft struck the treetops. The acft continued flying & was safely landed at another arpt, but the leading edges of the wings, the right wing tip, the left flap & the left horizontal stabilizer were damaged. The plt said the arpt was located on a mountain top which was surrounded by higher mountains. The density alt was aprx 4500 ft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9202Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31-350
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8414004
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Private Airways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- ACY · Atlantic City, NJ
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- Seven Springs, runway 27, 3,000 × 42 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
- 39
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,651 total · 250 in this make and model · 5,651 as pilot in command · 108 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 77 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.