# NTSB NYC95LA032: Piper PA-28-140, N1470T, Freeport, PA, November 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 19, 1994, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Freeport, PA - Coordinates: 40.680358, -79.679954 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6804&lon=-79.6800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38903/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA032 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF IN AN OVERWEIGHT AIRPLANE, HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW APPROVED SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF PROCEDURES, NOT ATTAINING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB, AND ATTEMPTING AN OPERATION BEYOND HIS EXPERIENCE LEVEL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - short field takeoff/procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause) - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - fence - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT HAD BEEN ENDORSED FOR THE SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE DEVIATED FROM HIS FLIGHT PLAN, FLEW TO MCVILLE AIRPORT, LANDED, AND BOARDED 2 PASSENGERS. DURING THE TAKEOFF FROM THE 2250-FT LONG TURF RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, BUT WAS AIRBORNE BRIEFLY BEFORE IT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE, WENT DOWN A HILL AND IMPACTED THE TOP OF TREES. THE AIRPLANE WAS 59 LBS OVER MAX TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT, AND THE PILOT HAD USED 10 DEG OF FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF. THE FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDED 25 DEG OF FLAPS FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. ## Factual narrative On November 19, 1994, at 1215 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N1470T, piloted by Mr. Gregory Mitchell, of Worthington, Pennsylvania, struck a fence and trees on takeoff from McVille Airport, Freeport, Pennsylvania. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot was not injured, however, the two passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The FAA reported the pilot held a student pilot certificate. He had been signed off for a solo cross-country flight. The route of flight took the airplane across McVille airport; however, McVille airport was not on the approved routing for the flight. The pilot landed at McVille airport, and boarded two passengers. He attempted a takeoff on runway 18, which was 2250 feet long and had a turf surface. The airplane got airborne, however, the pilot was unable to get a proper climb established. The airplane overran the runway and went through a fence, settling to the ground three times. The terrain then sloped down and the airplane struck the tops of trees beyond the runway. The airplane came to rest nose down, in a wooded area. When interviewed by the FAA, the pilot reported he used one notch of flaps, and the airplane flight manual recommended two notches of flaps for a short field takeoff. Gouges were reported in the turf runway, and in an open field past the departure end of the runway, similar to the tail skid on the airplane. Additionally, a check of the airplane weight and balance revealed the airplane was 59 lbs over its maximum takeoff gross weight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1470T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1470T-1999-04-14), registration cancelled 1999-04-14, S/N 28-7225527 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7225527 - Airframe hours: 3021 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Haski Aviation Of Pennsylvania - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 30, 1994, 72 hours before - Departed: P37 - Destination: P37, PA - Airport: P37, Mcville, runway 3, 2,250 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 34 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °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 19941119038629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941119038629A), Nov 19, 1994: Piper PA28140, Freeport, PA, Substantial damage. Student on crosscountry, made unauthorized airport landing. Loaded, over gross, unable fly. Ran off end into trees. 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.