Piper PA-28R-200 N57012

Summary

On 30 March 1996 at about 17:45 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N57012, operated by ADS Flight Center, was involved in an accident near Wareham, Massachusetts, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 died. 2 people on the ground also died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 March 1996 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wareham, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N57012

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

ADS Flight Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plymouth → Block Island

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96FA055

2 people died, including 2 on the ground.

Loss of engine power due to bearing insert being destroyed by excess heat. A factor in this accident is the pilot's experience level.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the initial climbout from the uncontrolled airport, the airplane lost engine power. The ATC tapes show that the airplane reached approximately 5300 feet mean sea level and had made a right 180-degree turn heading back towards the uncontrolled airport. It was at this time that the pilot came up on the air traffic controller's frequency and reported losing engine power and requested assistance to the nearest airport. The controller gave the pilot a heading to the nearest airport, so the pilot executed another right 180-degree turn. After turning to the heading the controller gave, the pilot realized that he was unable to make it to that airport. The pilot then executed a left 180-degree turn and stated that he would attempt to land on a busy interstate highway. The ground scaring and the trees that were clipped by the airplane indicate that the airplane impacted the northbound lane at approximately 60-degree angle. The airplane's momentum carried it across a gully and into the southbound lanes of the highway. The airplane impacted a southbound vehicle with its left wing, spun to a stop in the middle of the highway and burst into flames.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.