Cessna 337B N5471S

Summary

On 17 May 1998 at about 19:21 local time, a Cessna 337B registered N5471S was involved in an accident near Montgomery, New York, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 May 1998 at 19:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Montgomery, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Orange County (MGJ)

Coordinates

41.5196, -74.2309

Aircraft

Cessna 337B

Registration

N5471S

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Oxford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98LA110

1 person died.

the pilot's improper decision to initiate a takeoff with the rear engine inoperative, which resulted in an airplane that could not climb sufficiently to clear obstacles (trees).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was unable to start the rear engine of the Cessna 337. He then told some people he was going to make a single engine takeoff. The pilot initiated a takeoff with the rear engine not operating and the rear propeller not feathered. The airplane was observed to use all of the 5,000 foot runway to become airborne. After lift-off, the airplane did not climb, and it impacted trees off the departure end of the runway. An FAA inspector reported that there was a placard in the cockpit which stated, 'DO NOT INITITATE SINGLE ENGINE TAKEOFF.' Examination of the airplane revealed the rear propeller was not feathered, and the front propeller had separated from the engine at the crankshaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.