Piper PA-32 N3490W

Summary

On 28 June 1993 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-32 registered N3490W, operated by Thomas Worthington, was involved in an accident near Spencer, Massachusetts, United States. 4 people were 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

28 June 1993 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Spencer, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Spencer (MA10)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-32

Registration

N3490W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas Worthington

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Doylestown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC93LA131

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING FOR THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE DEPARTURE AND THE DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, WITH INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING, 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

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING ON A RETURN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS, BAGGAGE AND FULL FUEL. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, JUST BEYOND THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE 1930 FOOT RUNWAY, THE PILOT WAS UNSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WOULD CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT PULLED OFF THE POWER AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED TREES. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 1040 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK THE DISTANCE REQUIRED FOR THIS TAKEOFF TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1900 FEET

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.