Piper PA28 N43078

Summary

On 14 June 2015 at about 13:30 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N43078 was involved in an accident near Hampton, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 June 2015 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hampton, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Hampton Airfield (7B3)

Coordinates

42.9683, -70.8283

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N43078

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hampton → Biddeford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15LA237

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to properly set the stabilator trim prior to takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that the airplane lifted off normally but would not climb. The airplane cleared trees at the end of the runway before descending and impacting a wooded area. Two witnesses reported and airport surveillance video confirmed that the airplane lifted off in an extreme nose-up attitude and remained in that attitude as it descended below trees at the end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. During the examination, the stabilator trim was found in the full nose-up position. The pre-takeoff checklist for the airplane included instructions to properly set the stabilator trim prior to takeoff. It is likely that the stabilator trim position resulted in the airplane's extreme nose-up attitude, which led to an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb and an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.