Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER N582RH

Summary

On 18 August 2010 at about 15:10 local time, a Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER registered N582RH was involved in an accident near Old Forge, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 August 2010 at 15:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Old Forge, New York, United States

Coordinates

43.7142, -74.9408

Aircraft

Maxair MU 582 DRIFTER

Registration

N582RH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Old Forge → Old Forge

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA431

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to use the full length of the lake, which necessitated a steep turn to avoid obstacles during takeoff that resulted in an accelerated stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the passenger, the pilot had planned to fly the airplane to the opposite end of the lake. He said that the pilot taxied about 3/4 of the way down the lake, turned around, and started the takeoff roll. The airplane began to climb within 300 feet, but the pilot noticed an approaching line of trees on the shore, so he banked the airplane steeply to avoid hitting the trees. The passenger said that, when the pilot banked the airplane, all forward momentum was lost and they seemed to freefall. The passenger estimated that the airplane fell to the ground from a height of about 100 feet and impacted a swamp in a nose- down attitude. He said that the engine continued to operate throughout the entire accident sequence. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.