Piper PA-28-161 N717AV

Summary

On 29 May 1999 at about 00:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N717AV was involved in an accident near West Dover, Vermont, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 1999 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

West Dover, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Mount Snow (4V8)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N717AV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Farmingdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

NYC99FA123

3 people died.

Was the failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing. Factors were the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane, the variable winds, and night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The Piper PA-28-161, was landing to the north, at night, touched down on the runway and then became airborne at the end of the runway over lower terrain. A witness saw the airplane in a nose high attitude with the engine running, after which it struck trees, and descended onto a golf course. A mountain ridge was located 3 miles to the northwest, with winds from the northwest. The airport was noted for variable winds and the VASI lights listed for the airport were inoperative. No malfunction was found with the airplane or engine. The pilot owned a multi-engine airplane that was not available. He checked out in a PA-28-236, and completed an equipment exam on the airplane. The PA-28-236 was not available and the pilot the PA-28-161. No evidence of any single engine flying in the preceding year, other than the checkout was found. The operator's rules allowed a person to take a less complex airplane (PA-28-161), in place of a more complex airplane (PA-28-236), but did not require an equipment exam on the less complex airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.