Katama Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539
Saturday, July 19, 1997 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot started his takeoff roll and lifted the nose of the airplane from the uneven, rough, turf runway, with a crosswind from the left. The airplane was aligned with the intended takeoff direction for about 528 feet, then it veered off the left side for an additional 776 feet, and collided with shrubs. According to the pilot, he lifted the nosewheel to protect it from the rough runway, and when the airplane initially drifted to the right, he corrected with left rudder, and left main wheel brake. The airplane then veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine. The reported winds at the time of the accident were 270 degrees at 16 knots with wind gusts to 23 knots. The FAA reported a substantial dip in the turf runway, about the point where the airplane began to drift to the left.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control. Related factors were the crosswind, wind gusts and high vegetation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EDGARTOWN
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02539
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KATAMA AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1B2
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 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID MVY
Elevation of weather observation facility 68
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 23
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1653
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4530J
NTSB Number IAD97LA101
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28R-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28R30388
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Jan 23 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 122
Airframe Hours 4197
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAMCO INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 102 COOLIDGE HILL
Aircraft Owner City CAMBRIDGE
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02138
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 1B2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 24
Runway Length 2700
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --