# NTSB NYC88LA173: Piper PA-32-300, N1954H, Akron, NY, July 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 1, 1988, 14:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Akron, NY
- Coordinates: 43.010921, -78.489601 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0109&lon=-78.4896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36175
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36175/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA173

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT RESULTED IN A DELAYED ABORTED TAKE-OFF. AFTER AN INADVERTENT RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO ROUGH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING FOR UTICA AND WATERTOWN, NEW YORK. DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED FOR FLIGHT AND DID NOT THINK THE AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TO BECOME AIRBORNE. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AND DURING THIS PROCEDURE THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE AIRCRAFT SLID ABOUT 300 FEET OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO A STOP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1954H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1954H-1990-08-13), registration cancelled 1990-08-13, S/N 32R7780208 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780208
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G59 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Rex Miller Flying Service
- Registered owner: Carriage House Cadillac Olds
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: UTICA, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 9G3, Akron, runway 6, 3,310 × 48 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUF, 12 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 19880701024909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880701024909A), Jul 1, 1988: Piper PA32R300, Akron, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot beleived aircraft would not fly and aborted too late. Overran end runway, raised the gear. Slid into ravine.

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.