Piper PA-32R-301T N8463X

Summary

On 9 January 2000 at about 02:00 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N8463X was involved in an accident near Harpswell, Maine, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 January 2000 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Harpswell, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Farr Field Airpot (ME33)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N8463X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Portland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC00LA065

Nobody was injured.

was the improper decision of the pilot to depart at night, from an unlighted runway with no visual references to obstructions on the sides of the runway. Factors were the dark night conditions, and the lack of runway side lights.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on runway 32, an unlighted turf runway on a dark night. When he rotated, he lost sight of the trees on the sides of the runway, and the runway ahead. The right wing of the airplane struck trees on the right side of the runway prior to the departure end of the runway. The pilot continued with the takeoff and climbed to altitude. He reported that he was not certain if the wind drifted the airplane to the right, or he initiated a slight right turn. Winds in the area were reported to be from 210 to 220 degrees at 10 to 14 knots. Upon landing at a nearby airport, examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear was bent rearward, and the spar of the right horizontal stabilator had been bent rearward.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.