Piper PA-31T N163SA

Summary

On 14 August 1996 at about 11:08 local time, a Piper PA-31T registered N163SA was involved in an accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States. 3 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

14 August 1996 at 11:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Pottstown Muni Arpt (N47)

Coordinates

40.2508, -75.6409

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T

Registration

N163SA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Philadelphia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96LA133

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff/ground run resulting in in-flight collision with a fence. Related factors were the pilot's poor planning/decision making, and the fog.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an attempted takeoff, the airplane collided with a taxiway sign, a fence, a light pole and came to rest between two buildings. According to the pilot in command (seated in the right seat), a preflight and run-up inspection was completed successfully. He stated that a pilot rated passenger (in the left front seat) was following along with a placard checklist. He stated that the airplane was accelerated for takeoff on runway 7, and at 500 feet down the 2700 foot long runway with the airspeed at redline, rotation was initiated and the airplane veered to the right. He stated that shortly thereafter the right engine surged and he noted the matched power levers, but he did not record the engine power instruments. A passenger (seated in a forward facing seat behind the pilot in command) reported that the pilot rated passenger's hand was on the throttle(yellow-knobbed handles) at the time of the accident The reported visibility was 1/8 mile in fog. The prescribed takeoff minimums for that airport is 400 feet and 1 mile visibility. Postaccident examination of the engines and their systems revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.