Piper PA-24-250 N8353P

Summary

On 31 October 1996 at about 17:25 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N8353P, operated by Hotchee Baltaeff, was involved in an accident near Avon Park, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 October 1996 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Avon Park, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Avon Park Municipal (AVO)

Coordinates

27.5897, -81.4995

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N8353P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hotchee Baltaeff

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Summerland Key

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97FA014

3 people died.

The pilot's improper use of the elevator trim, which resulted in runway contact by the propeller during the takeoff roll and subsequent loss of aircraft control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the taxi to the runway for takeoff, the pilot was observed adjusting the ceiling mounted elevator trim. On takeoff, the nose of the airplane porpoised, and the propeller contacted the runway. After becoming airborne, the airplane turned left and entered a steep nose down dive until it impacted in an orange tree nursery. Subsequently, multiple propeller slash marks were found in the runway, where a witness observed a cloud of debris, created by the airplane on its takeoff roll. The elevator trim was found in the fully deflected position for nose down trim. The propeller blades exhibited abrasions on the cambered face at the tips, which were curled aft 90 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.