# NTSB NYC94LA121: Piper PA-60-700P, N323CB, White Plains, NY, July 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1994, 09:16 local (13:16 UTC) - Place: White Plains, NY - Coordinates: 41.050407, -73.739768 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0504&lon=-73.7398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38787/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor was internal obstruction of the pitot tube. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - pitot/static system - blocked(partial) (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence ## Analysis DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE 4451 FOOT LONG RUNWAY, WENT DOWN A HILL, AND STRUCK A FENCE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE INDICATED AIRSPEED NEEDLE CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 KNOTS, BUT THEN WOULD GO NO FURTHER...MY ATTEMPTS TO DISLODGE IT BY TAPPING ON THE FACE OF THE GAUGE WERE FUTILE...I PULLED BACK THE THROTTLES AND APPLIED FULL BRAKES...' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BASED ON THE EXISTING CONDITIONS 'THE AIRPLANE CAN ACCELERATE FROM REST TO ROTATION SPEED AND BACK TO REST IN LESS THAN 3500 FEET.' THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE PITOT TUBE WAS INTERNALLY OBSTRUCTED WITH AN INSECT AND MUD. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1994 at 0916 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 60-700P, N323CB, owned and operated by Clifford Botway, Inc., of New York, New York, overran the runway during an aborted takeoff, at Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York. The airplane was destroyed by fire. One passenger received minor injuries. The pilot and 3 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the business flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...during the take-off roll, the indicated air speed needle climbed to approximately 60 knots, but then would go no further...my attempts to dislodge it by tapping on the face of the gauge were futile...I pulled back the throttles and applied full brakes.... When interviewed after the accident, the pilot reported when the airplane was 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down the runway, he aborted the takeoff. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway, and became momentarily airborne as the terrain sloped down. When the airplane struck the ground, the landing gear was driven up through the wings, and then the airplane slid into a chain link fence, where it stopped. Fire immediately appeared in both engines as the occupants evacuated the airplane through the left forward door. Skid marks were measured on the runway for a distance of 637 feet prior to the end of the runway. The airplane traveled an additional 221 feet beyond the end of the runway, prior to coming to rest. According to the Airport Facility Directory, runway 29 was 4451 feet long, and 150 feet wide. The runway surface was grooved concrete and was dry. Post accident investigation was conducted under the direction of the NTSB and FAA, by Empire Avionics, Inc. According to the report from Empire Avionics, Inc.: Checked Pitot system. Found that Pitot system was blocked. Removed Pitot mast and hooked directly to line. Pitot system now operates normally. Checked pitot tube, found clogged. Blew out Pitot mast with compressed air. Found Mud and Bug was in tube.... The pitot tube was located on the top of the vertical stabilizer. The airplane had been modified with larger engines. The performance charts were not changed. The performance equaled or was better than shown on the charts. According to the ACCELERATE/STOP chart for 20 degrees of flaps, the airplane would require 3625 feet. The FAA reported the wing flaps were extended approximately 20 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N323CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N323CB-1994-09-21), registration cancelled 1994-09-21, S/N 608365007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-700P - Registry model: [Piper PA-60-602P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-60-602p) (registry code 7106015) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 60-8365007 - Airframe hours: 775 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-AA1A5M 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clifford Botway Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 1994, 40 hours before - Destination: EKM, ELKHART, IN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HPN, Westchester County, runway 29, 4,451 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,619 total, 1,033 in this make and model, 1,424 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HPN ## 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 19940712018239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940712018239A), Jul 12, 1994: Piper PA60602P, White Plains, NY, Destroyed. On takeoff noted low airspeed. Aborted late. Overran runway. Impact drove gear thru wings. Bugs blocked pitot tube. 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.