- Date
- November 25, 1994, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Waldoboro, ME
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N98542Piper J3C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941125039259A
- Case key
- 38905
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's premature lift off which resulted in insufficient climb performance and collision with trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated, 'I did not get lined up for takeoff the way I should because of the dog chasing the plane... The plane was going slow and as I neared the end of the runway my right wing tip hit a tree.' According to an FAA inspector, during the takeoff roll the pilot's dog ran in front of the airplane. The pilot lifted off prematurely to avoid his dog and the airplane collided with trees.
Factual narrative
On November 25, 1994, about 1315 eastern standard time, N98542, a Piper J3C, piloted by Harry R. Bickford, on a personal flight, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Waldoboro, Maine. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported, "I did not get lined up for takeoff the way I should because of the dog chasing the plane... The plane was going slow and as I neared the end of the runway my right wing tip hit a tree. This caused the plane to turn in the air stalling the right wing. I went into a pitched down attitude the left wing hit first and the engine right behind it. The aircraft was damaged (substantially) but I was not hurt."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), during the takeoff roll the pilots dog ran in front of the airplane. The pilot lifted off prematurely to avoid his dog and the airplane collided with trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98542
- Reported as
- Piper J3C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18732
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harry R Bickford
- Destination
- ME
- Airport
- runway 9, 750 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 60 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUG, 24 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.