# NTSB NYC90LA073: Piper PA-28-181, N47644, Orange, MA, February 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1990, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place: Orange, MA
- Location: 42.5700° N, 72.2885° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ORANGE MUNI (ORE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5700&lon=-72.2885&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36616/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA073

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT WHILE ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE CROSSWIND, TURBULENCE, AND SNOWBANK WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 32, IT ENCOUNTERED APPARENT WINDSHEAR & TURBULENCE. INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD. HOWEVER, A WING TIP & THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A SNOWBANK AS THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED OVER THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SKIDDED ON CRUSTED SNOW AND CAME TO REST 50 FEET OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47644](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47644-1991-10-16), registration cancelled 1991-10-16, S/N 287890169 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7890169
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Norman Page
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Airport: ORE, Orange, runway 32, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 237 total, 176 in this make and model, 184 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900222004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900222004949A), Feb 22, 1990: Piper PA28181, Orange, MA, Substantial damage. Windshear and turbulence on crosswind takeoff prompted pilot to abort. Hit frozen snowbank. Too much crosswind.

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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