Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Wednesday, March 15, 1995 5:12 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND CAME TO REST IN A CHURCH YARD. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE CRASH; HOWEVER, SEVERAL LOCAL RESIDENTS HEARD THE AIRPLANE OVERFLY THEIR HOMES AT A LOW ALTITUDE. ONE RESIDENT STATED THAT HE HEARD THE AIRPLANE COLLIDE WITH THE TREES. ANOTHER RESIDENT STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE OPERATING AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW LOW OVERHEAD. BOTH RESIDENTS REPORTED THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY HAMPERED THEIR ABILITY TO FIND THE WRECKAGE. ONE RESIDENT ESTIMATED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 50 TO 60 FEET. THE PRESCRIBED TAKEOFF MINIMUMS FOR THAT AIRPORT IS 300 FEET AND 1 MILE VISIBILITY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the commercial/instrument rated pilot's failure to obtain/maintain adequate altitude/clearance during the initial climb after takeoff. Related factors are the pilot's poor planning/decision making, and the fog.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/15/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 512
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CAMBRIDGE
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21613
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 515 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 304
Weather Observation Facility ID SBY
Elevation of weather observation facility 52
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 50
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 767
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 15 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N166CP
NTSB Number BFO95FA033
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-46-310P
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-46-310P
Aircraft Serial Number 46-8408024
Certified Max Gross Weight 4118
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 23 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 125
Airframe Hours 6089
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES POWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 200 TRENTON STREET
Aircraft Owner City CAMBRIDGE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21613
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CGE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 505
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MTN
Destination City MARTIN STATE
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --