Salem Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salem, New Jersey 08079
Wednesday, July 29, 1998 12:52 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with 10 foot tall, dense swamp reeds, 100 feet beyond the departure end of the runway shortly after takeoff. The airplane rotated 180 degrees, struck tail first and ended up inverted in the swamp. According to the pilot, his airspeed during climb out was 'normal' at 70 knots. He said he cleared the end of the 2,300 foot long, grass runway, when a gust of wind (wind shear) caused the airplane to drop about 10 to 15 feet. He said there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the reeds. A related factor was the wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/1998
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1252
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SALEM
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08079
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SALEM AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 27N
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 15
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1251 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID ILG
Elevation of weather observation facility 74
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 1907
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 5 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32583
NTSB Number IAD98LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7525087
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
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 Oct 30 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS F ZIMMIE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 39 ZELENKE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City WYNANTSKILL
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12198
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 27N
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5B7
Destination City RENSSELAER
Destination State NY
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 33
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 180
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --