# NTSB NYC89LA164: Piper PA-28-160, N5913W, Hammond, NY, July 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1989, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Hammond, NY
- Coordinates: 42.290821, -78.240524 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2908&lon=-78.2405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36438
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36438/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA164

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE THE ACCIDENT WAS A WET GRASS RUNWAY AND THE FAULTY TACHOMETER WHICH INFLUENCED THE PILOT'S DECISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - climb - discontinued, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,tachometer - fluctuating (contributing factor)
  - abort - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED NORMALLY UNITL IT WAS ROTATED. THE PILOT SAID HE NOTICED A POWER LOSS AND A DROP IN RPM TO 2100. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 5 FEET OFF THE GROUND WITH ABOUT 900 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING. THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED BACK ON THE WET RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END STRIKING SOME TREE STUMPS. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE ENGINE TACHOMETER INDICATED 100 RPM LOW.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5913W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5913W-1990-08-21), registration cancelled 1990-08-21, S/N 283072 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-3072
- Airframe hours: 3174
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harry J. Termin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 1988, 66 hours before
- Destination: ART, WATERTOWN, NY
- Airport: Black Lake, runway 23, 1,850 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,406 total, 3,306 in this make and model, 8,200 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19890714024509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890714024509A), Jul 14, 1989: Piper PA28160, Hammond, NY, Substantial damage. Believed lower than normal RPM on takeoff, aborted and slid off end wet grass runway. Tach was reading 100RPM low.

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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