Piper PA-34-220T N8371H

Summary

On 24 October 1997 at about 19:51 local time, a Piper PA-34-220T registered N8371H, operated by Morton T. Saunders, was involved in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was 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

24 October 1997 at 19:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Northeast Philadelphia (PNE)

Coordinates

40.0705, -74.9993

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-220T

Registration

N8371H

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Morton T. Saunders

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98LA019

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to check the elevator trim prior to takeoff, and his failure to retard the power in a timely manner after touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the takeoff run, it was difficult to pitch the nose up for takeoff. The airplane became airborne and descended back onto the runway. The airplane porpoised on the runway several times before the nose and right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the flight was the first since the annual inspection. Although he checked flight control freedom before takeoff, he did not check the elevator trim position. After the accident, he realized the trim was in the full nose-down position. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not immediately retard the power after the airplane returned to the runway and began to porpoise.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.