Piper PA-28-200 N9357N

Summary

On 11 June 2002 at about 20:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-200 registered N9357N was involved in an accident near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

11 June 2002 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Bowtie Airport (PA51)

Coordinates

39.9083, -77.2086

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-200

Registration

N9357N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gettysburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC02LA113

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to accurately compute takeoff performance and his failure to establish a positive climb resulting in a collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While departing from a 1,800-foot long grass strip, the airplane remained in ground effect and would not climb. The airplane then struck a tree and a power line located about 500 feet beyond the end of the runway, shearing the right wing from the fuselage. The pilot stated that the airplane's weight at the time of the accident was about 300 pounds below the maximum gross weight. He did not report any malfunctions with the engine or airframe. Examination of the landing facility after the accident revealed that the turf was mowed to a height of about 6 inches. According to the airplane pilot's operating handbook, the takeoff performance for a paved level dry runway, at maximum gross weight, included a ground roll of about 1,000 feet, and a total distance of 2,100 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.