Block Island State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Block Island, Rhode Island 02807
Saturday, June 28, 1997 20:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that all preflight and pre-takeoff checklist items were completed. After the airplane accelerated to 65 knots on the takeoff roll, the pilot 'pulled back on the yoke and the plane wouldn't takeoff.' The pilot aborted the takeoff by 'pulling the throttle to the closed position and simultaneously applying the brakes.' The airplane rolled off the departure end of the runway, down an embankment, struck a chain link fence where it came to rest in an upright position. Faint traces of rubber were found on the runway which corresponded to the wheel marks in the grass which lead to the airplane. The grass did not show indications of tearing or furrowing consistent with heavy braking or skidding tires. No malfunction anomalies were found in the airframe or the engine. The elevator trim was found in a 3/4 nose down position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to comply with the airplane's takeoff checklist and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BLOCK ISLAND
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02807
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BLOCK ISLAND STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 109
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2355 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BID
Elevation of weather observation facility 109
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1722
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 29 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1755
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N80964
NTSB Number IAD97LA094
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8216108
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 3 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 4380
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THREE WING AIRCRAFT SALES, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 59 PRIMROSE AVE
Aircraft Owner City BRIDGEPORT
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06606
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 BID
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BDR
Destination City BRIDGEPORT
Destination State CT
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 28
Runway Length 2501
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --