# NTSB NYC94LA143: Piper PA-28-181, N8453B, Bridgeport, CT, July 31, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1994, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place: Bridgeport, CT
- Location: 41.1635° N, 73.1262° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BRIDGEPORT/SIKORSKY (BDR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1635&lon=-73.1262&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38806
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38806/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA143

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED RUNWAY 11, AND AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, IN WET GRASS AND MUD.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE ROTATED THE AIRPLANE, '...AT 60 KNOTS-ENGINE MISSED, STALL HORN SOUNDED....'  HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN SPEED, AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF WITH LESS THAN 1000 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED, 'NOSE DOWN AND LEFT WING DOWN...[AND] SKIDDED AROUND [THE] LEFT WING.'  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.

## Factual narrative

On July 31, 1994, at 1455 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N8453B, registered and piloted by William Krummel, sustained substantial damage just after takeoff, at the Sikorsky Airport, Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The pilot and the 3 passengers were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The airplane had departed runway 11, and at an approximate altitude of 30 feet above the ground, the pilot aborted the takeoff, and impacted on the right side of the runway, in wet grass, and mud.

According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he rotated the airplane, "...at 60 knots-engine missed, stall horn sounded during initial climb."  According to the pilot's statement, he lowered the nose to gain speed, and:

At around 30 feet above [the] runway decided to land.       Engine continued to miss.  Less than 1000' of runway      left with hill, fence, and road at end of runway.       Decided to land in grass and wetlands...grass was muddy      and helped absorb impact...landing was nose down and      left wing down, plane skidded around left wing.

The FAA examined the engine after the accident, and no discrepancies were found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8453B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8453B), registered now, S/N 28-8290047, built 1981 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8290047
- Airframe hours: 2834
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Krummel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 1994, 22 hours before
- Destination: PVC, PROVINCETOWN, MA
- Airport: BDR, Bridgeport/Sikorsky, runway 11, 4,761 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 675 total, 559 in this make and model, 579 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °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 19940731019909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940731019909A), Jul 31, 1994: Piper PA28181, Bridgeport, CT, Substantial damage. Beleived engine missed on takeoff. Aborted 30 ft AGL. Landed wet grass and mud off side runway to avoid overrun.

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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