Piper PA-31T1 N919RD

Summary

On 16 December 1999 at about 22:15 local time, a Piper PA-31T1 registered N919RD was involved in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 December 1999 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Santa Fe Municipal (SAF)

Coordinates

35.7397, -105.8608

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T1

Registration

N919RD

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Olathe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00LA030

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot initiating lift off at an airspeed insufficient to maintain flight and retracting the landing gear prematurely resulting in a stall mush. A factor was the pilot incorrectly setting the elevator trim.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On takeoff during the initiation of a cross-country flight, the pilot raised the landing gear following liftoff and the aircraft settled back onto the ground off the end of the runway. According to the pilot and the FAA inspector who examined the aircraft, both engines were producing normal power. The elevator trim was set at 12 degrees nose up vice 3-6 degrees required, and the aircraft was within weight and balance limits. The pilot lowered the landing gear prior to impact. According to information provided by the aircraft manufacturer, induced drag increases during landing gear retraction and extension due to the landing gear doors being extended into the air stream as the landing gear cycles.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.