Lebanon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hartford, Vermont 05001
Thursday, November 9, 1995 11:26 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness observed the airplane during its initial climb after takeoff, in a slow rate of climb, with the landing gear extended. A flight instructor, flying above and behind, observed the airplane pitch up and enter a two turn left spin. He observed the airplane crash in a steep descent, with the landing gear extended, about 3 miles from the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure of the airframe or engine. The airplane had departed with full fuel, three occupants, and 159 pounds of baggage. The airplane was about 124 pounds over its maximum gross weight. Before the flight, the pilot requested that a lineman brush snow off of the airplane, and after the snow was removed, light icing remained on the inboard wing and left inboard horizontal stabilizer.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, his inadequate removal of airframe ice, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/spin and an inflight collision with terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot allowed the airplane's gross weight to be exceeded, and he failed to raise the landing gear during the climb after takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/9/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1126
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City HARTFORD
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 05001
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEBANON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LEB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1127 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LEB
Elevation of weather observation facility 598
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1910
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 9 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7734P
NTSB Number NYC96FA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-24-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-180
Aircraft Serial Number 24-2948
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 4 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 106
Airframe Hours 4032
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROSS SPATH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 413 NORTH CAROLINA TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City BROWNSMILLS
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08015
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LEB
Departure City LEBANON
Departure State NH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1123
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AGC
Destination City PITTSBURGH
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
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 --