ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 133847
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Date: | Friday 24 May 1996 |
Time: | 10:55 |
Type: | Piper PA-31-310 Navajo |
Owner/operator: | Private |
Registration: | N103RW |
MSN: | 31-223 |
Year of manufacture: | 1968 |
Total airframe hrs: | 3812 hours |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | Stevensville, Maryland -
United States of America
|
Phase: | Take off |
Nature: | Private |
Departure airport: | Bay Bridge Airport (W29) |
Destination airport: | Laconia, New Hampshire (LCI/KLCI) |
Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:On May 24, 1996, at 10:55 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), N103RW, a Piper PA-31-310, lost engine power during initial climb from the Bay Bridge Airport and impacted the water in Stevensville, Maryland. The certificated private pilot, and the six passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at 10:45 EDT and the intended destination was Laconia, New Hampshire.
According to the pilot, he had completed a thorough preflight inspection of the airplane, which included draining the fuel tanks. He stated that a weight and balance within limits was accomplished also. He said the engine start and run-up check lists were completed uneventfully. The pilot stated that he applied the brakes, added full power and the airplane accelerated for takeoff.
He said, "...I ran engines up to full power before releasing brakes at departure end of runway-all systems normal. Rotated at 105 mph. After gear up I noticed dramatic loss of airspeed. Plane began rocking from wingtip to wingtip-not sure it caused by power failure or turbulence. I pushed all controls forward-were all forward. Leveled pitch attitude of aircraft but airspeed loss continued. I was concerned that due to altitude and continuing loss of airspeed recovery would be impossible. My best and only option was to attempt a controlled landing in the water which I set up for and accomplished... ."
A witness fueling an airplane on the ramp said, "...the Navajo went by me on the runway at approximately the 500 foot mark from the end of runway 29. It sounded as if the aircraft was not making full power and I went out to the edge of the runway to watch the aircraft depart the runway. When the aircraft became airborne it was not gaining altitude and leveled at approximately 75 to 100 feet off the runway. The aircraft landing gear retracted and the aircraft started to descend towards the water. The wings tipped from side to side indicating to me that the aircraft was just about at a stall. The wings never went more than approximately fifteen degrees to either the right or the left and the aircraft continued in a gradual descent... ."
The aircraft was refueled on Wednesday, May 22 and had not flown since refueling. Fuel samples taken from the airport fuel sources after the accident did not disclose evidence of contamination. After the accident, the baggage was removed from the airplane and was not weighed.
According to the Piper Information Manual the lift off speed and flap setting for a short field takeoff over a 50 foot obstacle is 85 mph and 15 degrees. The reported winds at the time of the accident was 010 degrees at 7 knots, and the runway is 2,910 feet long. Excerpts of performance chart, and airport information are appended.
The airplane impacted water during the hours of daylight at 38 degrees, 58 minutes north latitude and 76 degrees, 20 minutes west longitude.
Sources:
1. NTSB Identification: IAD96FA085 at
https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001208X05784&ntsbno=IAD96FA085&akey=1 2. FAA:
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=103RW 3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.baaa-acro.com/1996/archives/crash-of-a-piper-pa-31-navajo-chieftain-in-stevensville/]
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
30-Apr-2015 21:34 |
Dr. John Smith |
Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
21-Dec-2016 19:26 |
ASN Update Bot |
Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
13-Oct-2017 16:23 |
Dr. John Smith |
Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Source, Narrative] |
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