# NTSB NYC90FA227: Piper PA-24-260, N8664P, Eliot, ME, September 23, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1990, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Eliot, ME - Location: 43.1531° N, 70.8001° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eliot, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1531&lon=-70.8001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36552/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA227 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE OVER WEIGHT CONDITION, UPSLOPING RUNWAY, PREMATURE ROTATION, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TYPE AIRCRAFT AND GENERAL AVIATION OPERATIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - Fire, other ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WA APPROXIMATELY 48 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND RUNWAY UPSLOPE WAS ABOUT 1/2 DEGREE. TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL FOR 0 AND 1 DEGREE UP WAS 1,075 AND 1,214 FT RESPECTIVELY. WITNESSES OBSERVED INITIAL ROTATION ATTEMPTED AFTER APPROX 800 FT OF ROLL. THEY ALSO REPORTED THAT THE NOSE ROSE OFF OF AND WENT BACK DOWN TO THE RUNWAY 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AT THE END. TERRAIN DESCENDED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE ROUGHLY DESCENDED PARALLEL TO THAT DOWNSLOPE IN GROUND EFFECT TO INITIAL TREE IMPACT 390 FEET LATER AT 10 FT AGL. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST AND WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE 561 FT FROM RUNWAY END. ALTHOUGH WITNESSES FELT ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND ACCELERATION WERE NOT OPTIMUM, NO DISCREPANCIES WERE DISCOVERED. MOST OF THE PILOT'S EXPERIENCE WAS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE USAF JETS. HE HAD 1 HOUR OF DUAL IN MAKE AND MODEL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND 3 KNOWN DUAL FLIGHTS IN CIVILIAN AIRPLANES. THE ONLY RUNWAY USED DURING THIS TRAINING WAS THE 8,000 FT LONG. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8664P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8664P-1991-05-23), registration cancelled 1991-05-23, S/N 244111 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4111 - Airframe hours: 2959 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Norfolk Navy Flying Club - Registered owner: Phillip A. Lee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 1990, 11 hours before - Destination: NGU, NORFOLK,, VA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 3B4, Littlebrook, runway 30, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,800 total, 4 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PSM, 4 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 19900923041489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900923041489A), Sep 23, 1990: Piper PA24260, Eliot, ME, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Crashed and burned during attemped VFR takeoff six witnesses heard engine backfire and apparent not full power. ## Other investigations on N8664P (2) 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. - [NTSB SEA75DYA17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75DYA17), Sep 2, 1974: Piper PA-24 (N8664P), Rockland, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN69D0236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69D0236), Apr 19, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N8664P), Gillette, WY, substantial damage 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.