Piper PA-28RT-201 N305RC

Summary

On 2 August 1998 at about 18:14 local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201 registered N305RC was involved in an accident near Hackettstown, New Jersey, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 August 1998 at 18:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Hackettstown, New Jersey, United States

Nearest airport

Hackettstown Airport (N05)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28RT-201

Registration

N305RC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Monticello

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98LA160

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to use the airplane's takeoff performance data, and his failure to obtain the proper climb airspeed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot landed at the airport with a passenger, and picked up two additional passengers. The pilot estimated the airplane's takeoff weight to be 2,710 pounds. The pilot taxied onto Runway 23, released the brakes at 1,500 to 1,700 RPM, and rotated the airplane at 61 to 62 knots IAS. After rotation, about 30 feet above the ground, the pilot felt the airplane would not clear the trees at the departure end of the runway. The stall horn sounded, and he elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down left of the runway and entered a line of trees. According to performance charts, a ground run of about 1,700 feet and a clear distance of approximately 2,200 feet was required to clear a 50 foot obstacle. The calculations were based on obtaining 2,700 RPM before brake release, and rotating the airplane at approximately 70 knots IAS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.