# NTSB NYC98LA146: Piper PA28-140, N5755F, Rockland, ME, July 19, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1998, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Rockland, ME - Location: 44.0601° N, 69.0997° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KNOX COUNTY RGNL (RKD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0601&lon=-69.0997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43210/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during the takeoff, which resulted in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The student pilot (SP) was performing a soft field takeoff. He stated, 'I pulled yoke full aft, power full, [and] rolled down the runway. Plane wallowed into air at approximately 60 MPH. I pushed nose forward, left wing dropped. Plane wandered to side of runway. I lost ground effect. Left wing dropped. Plane looped to left. I tried to correct. Apparently pulled nose up too much [and] stalled....' The airplane's left wing tip and propeller struck the ground. The airplane cartwheeled, and came to rest in a swampy area on the left side of the runway, where a post crash fire ensued. Examination of wreckage did not reveal any evidence a mechanical malfunction of the airframe or engine. The SP reported 43 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1998, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 28-140, N5755F, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during the initial climb, after takeoff from Knox County Regional Airport, Rockland (RKD), Maine. The certificated student pilot (SP) sustained minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the SP said he was performing a soft field takeoff from runway 21 at RKD. He further stated: "...As airplane turned to point down runway I pulled yoke full aft, power full, [and] rolled down runway. Plane wallowed into air at approximately 60 MPH. I pushed nose forward, left wing dropped. Plane wandered to side of runway. I lost ground effect. Left wing dropped. Plane looped to left. I tried to correct. Apparently pulled nose up too much [and] stalled...." The airplane's left wing tip and propeller struck the ground. The airplane cartwheeled, and came to rest in a swampy area on the left side of the runway, where a post crash fire ensued. Examination of wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any evidence a mechanical malfunction of the airframe or engine. The SP reported 43 hours of total flight experience, all in make and model. Winds reported at RKD, at 1855, were from 230 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5755F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5755F-1999-06-16), registration cancelled 1999-06-16, S/N 28-25058 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-25058 - Airframe hours: 5165 - Engines: Lycoming O-320E2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Knox County Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1998, 40 hours before - Departed: RKD - Airport: RKD, Knox County Regional, runway 21, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 43 total, 43 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RKD ## 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 19980719046469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980719046469A), Jul 19, 1998: Piper PA28140, Rockland, ME, Destroyed. (.4) The student pilot (sp) was performing a soft field takeoff. He stated, 'I pulled yoke full aft, power full, and rolled down the runway. Plane wallowed… 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.