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November 9, 1983 · Piper PA-23-250 · N4708P

West Seneca, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 9, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
West Seneca, NY
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N4708P
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC84FA024

THE ACFT WAS BEING REPOSITIONED BY THE OWNER FROM A MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT BUFFALO INTL ARPT TO BUFFALO AIRPARK. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT BOTH LOCATIONS WHO HAD DEALT WITH THE OWNER INDICATED HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO CUT COSTS BY PERFORMING UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS HIMSELF. THESE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETE PRIOR TO DEPARTING BUFFALO INTL. THE PLT OF N4708P ABORTED HIS FIRST TKOF STATING TO THE TWR '...I HAD A LITTLE MISS.' WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THE SECOND TKOF THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ABT 50 FT THEN LOST ALT WITH THE NOSE PITCHING DOWN. THE RATE OF DESCENT WAS ARRESTED BEFORE GD CONTACT AND A SLOW 'MUSHY' CLIMB WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT NEVER EXCEEDED 300 FT ALT IN THE 5 MILE FLT TO BUFFALO AIRPARK. IT WAS OBSVD BY THE TWR SUPERVISOR TO OSCILLATE NOSE UP AND DOWN AFT EXTENDING THE LNDG GR FOLLOWED BY ROLLING TO THE RT AND SPINNING INTO THE GD APPROX 1 MILE E OF BUFFALO AIRPARK. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROX 50 HOURS TIME IN PA-23'S, 28 HOURS AS PIC AND 5 HOURS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS BEING REPOSITIONED BY THE OWNER FROM A MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT BUFFALO INTL ARPT TO BUFFALO AIRPARK. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT BOTH LOCATIONS WHO HAD DEALT WITH THE OWNER INDICATED HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO CUT COSTS BY PERFORMING UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS HIMSELF. THESE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETE PRIOR TO DEPARTING BUFFALO INTL. THE PLT OF N4708P ABORTED HIS FIRST TKOF STATING TO THE TWR '...I HAD A LITTLE MISS.' WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING THE SECOND TKOF THE ACFT CLIMBED TO ABT 50 FT THEN LOST ALT WITH THE NOSE PITCHING DOWN. THE RATE OF DESCENT WAS ARRESTED BEFORE GD CONTACT AND A SLOW 'MUSHY' CLIMB WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT NEVER EXCEEDED 300 FT ALT IN THE 5 MILE FLT TO BUFFALO AIRPARK. IT WAS OBSVD BY THE TWR SUPERVISOR TO OSCILLATE NOSE UP AND DOWN AFT EXTENDING THE LNDG GR FOLLOWED BY ROLLING TO THE RT AND SPINNING INTO THE GD APPROX 1 MILE E OF BUFFALO AIRPARK. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROX 50 HOURS TIME IN PA-23'S, 28 HOURS AS PIC AND 5 HOURS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:30 EST
Nearest AirportBuffalo Airpark (1nm E)
Runway24
Runway Length2600 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN4708P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 7 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:37
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data