# NTSB NYC98LA126: Piper PA-24-180, N6977P, Taunton, MA, June 10, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 1998, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Taunton, MA - Location: 41.8741° N, 71.0152° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TAUNTON MUNI/KING FLD (TAN), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8741&lon=-71.0152&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39573/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA126 ## Probable cause a delayed decision by the pilot to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an overrun. A factor was false reading from the airspeed indicator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - false indication - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway overrun area - drop-off/descending embankment ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he glanced at the airspeed, and saw that it was still indicating zero although the airplane was accelerating. He said he closed the throttle, and applied brakes. The airplane departed the end of the 1,550 feet long turf/gravel runway, and went down an embankment. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the pitot tube, which was located under the left wing was missing. A search of the area including the taxi route of the airplane for departure, and the accident site failed to locate the pilot tube. A witness who observed the takeoff reported that at mid-field, the airplane appeared slower than normal, and he did not hear a power reduction until the airplane has used 3/4 of the available runway. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 1998, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N6977P, was substantially damaged when it overran the runway during an aborted takeoff at Taunton Municipal Airport, Taunton, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that was destined for Norwood, Massachusetts. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he had arrived from Norwood, about 25 minutes earlier, and the airplane was not serviced while at Taunton. Upon completion of their business, the pilot and two passengers boarded the airplane for the return flight. During the takeoff roll on runway 22, the pilot noticed that the airspeed indicator needle was still at the "0" position. Just before aborting the takeoff, the airspeed indicator needle was bouncing off the "0" indication, but it was not increasing as the airplane was accelerating. The pilot closed the throttle, and applied the brakes to abort the takeoff. The airplane continued off the departure end of the runway, and went down an embankment. The embankment was about 50 feet from the end of the runway, and had a 40-degree down slope. The slope was populated with brush and small trees. A witness who observed the takeoff roll reported that at mid-field, the airplane appeared slower than normal, and he did not hear a power reduction until the airplane was 3/4 of the way down the runway. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), reported that he examined the airplane and accident site. He reported that he did not observe signs of heavy braking until just prior to the airplane departing the end of the runway. The pilot in an interview reported that he used heavy braking. The pitot tube, which was located under the left wing, was found to be missing. The FAA inspector reported that he walked the taxi route of the airplane and examined the area where the airplane came to rest for the missing pitot tube. The search was unsuccessful, and it could not be located. The FAA reported that they were unable to determine why the pitot tube had separated from the wing. According to the FAA, the main runway at Taunton, runway 12/30 was closed for repairs and a NOTAM (Notice To Airmen) had been issued. Runway 04/22 was 1,550 feet long, 150 feet wide, and had a turf/gravel surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6977P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6977P-2012-08-23), registration cancelled 2012-08-23, S/N 24-2120, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: PA-24-2120 - Airframe hours: 2942 - Engines: Lycoming O-36-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George A. Berglund - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 1997, 48 hours before - Departed: TAN - Destination: OWD, NORWOOD, MA - Airport: TAN, Taunton, runway 22, 1,550 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,797 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,797 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TAN ## 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 19980610013189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980610013189A), Jun 10, 1998: Piper PA24, Taunton, MA, Substantial damage. Ovserved no airspeed on takeoff. Aborted. Went over 20 ft embankment befores stopping. No skid marks. (.4)the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he… 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.