# NTSB NYC91LA083: Piper PA-30-160, N74994, Rancocas, NJ, March 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1991, 07:01 local (12:01 UTC)
- Place: Rancocas, NJ
- Location: 40.0155° N, 74.8413° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at INDUCTOTHERM (3NJ6), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0155&lon=-74.8413&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36885
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36885/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA083

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON INITIAL TAKE OFF CLIMB RESULTING IN A STALL AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASON AND A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - 1 engine (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT BEGAN A TAKE OFF ROLL WITH A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND, WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, VEERED TO THE LEFT, LOST AIRSPEED, STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N74994 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30-160
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-562
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Inductotherm Corp.
- Registered owner: Inductotherm Corp.
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Destination: N23, SIDNEY, NY
- Airport: 3NJ6, Inductotherm, runway 2, 3,856 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,705 total, 137 in this make and model, 2,465 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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