Piper PA-38-112 N2558

Summary

On 19 February 1997 at about 17:02 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N2558, operated by Joseph Durda, was involved in an accident near Nanjemoy, Maryland, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 February 1997 at 17:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Nanjemoy, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Parks Airpark (MD54)

Coordinates

38.4508, -77.2108

Aircraft

Piper PA-38-112

Registration

N2558

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Joseph Durda

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC97LA053

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadequate compensate for the wind conditions and failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during the initial climb after takeoff. The unfavorable wind condition and proximity of trees were related factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he '...needed more power to taxi...' because the turf was soft on the field. He said he lined up for departure on runway 18 and that there were tall trees on either side of the departure end. The pilot said that at the start of the takeoff roll, he '...firewalled it. The plane started slow but during the takeoff roll it speeded up pretty good. At 56 to 57 knots I rotated. I got just to the top of the trees when I felt a gust. The airplane drifted to the left and struck a branch. The airplane cartwheeled to the left and descended through pine trees. On the way down, I noticed the windscreen was completely gone.' The pilot reported that the airplane '...wedged into pine trees.' He explained that the airplane came to rest nose down with the propeller buried approximately one foot into the turf. He said he released his seat belt and shoulder harness and '...slid right out the front over the engine cowling.' Neither the pilot reported nor did the examination of the aircraft reveal indication of mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.