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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 28, 1993 · Piper PA-32 · N3490W

Spencer, MA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 28, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Spencer, MA
Aircraft
Piper PA-32
Tail Number
N3490W
Operator
Thomas Worthington
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC93LA131

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING ON A RETURN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS, BAGGAGE AND FULL FUEL. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, JUST BEYOND THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE 1930 FOOT RUNWAY, THE PILOT WAS UNSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT PULLED OFF THE POWER AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED TREES. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 1040 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR THIS TAKEOFF TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1900 FEET

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING FOR THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE DEPARTURE AND THE DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TREES

Full Narrative

On Monday, June 28, 1993, at about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 32 260, N3490W, owned and piloted by Thomas Worthington, of Furlong, Pennsylvania, overran the end of the runway during an aborted takeoff from the Spencer Airport, Spencer, Massachusetts. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and two passengers were not injured, a third passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane had only accelerated to approximately 50 miles per hour, after using half of the 1,950 foot runway. The pilot was unsure that the airplane could clear trees at the end of the runway and elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane overran the end of the runway, decelerated in light brush and impacted heavy brush. The airplane was departing with four occupants, full fuel and several pieces of luggage. The airport elevation was 1050 feet above mean sea level and the outside air temperature was approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportSPENCER (0nm)
Runway19
Runway Length1930 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32
Tail NumberN3490W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorThomas Worthington
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-E4B5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240°
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data