Perras Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morrisville, Vermont 12962
Sunday, September 6, 1998 9:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was receiving flight instruction from the CFI. He performed a touch and go landing, and a witness located at the end of the runway said the airplane looked very low, and was not more than 20 feet above the ground during the climb out. The airplane remained low and then made a left turn. During the turn, the airplane pitched down and impacted a rural road, at 'more than a 45 degree angle.' Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions, however, it was noted that the wooden propeller remained intact, and the propeller damage appeared to be caused by forward motion. Review of an FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart placed the temperature and dewpoint recorded at an airport about 2 miles from the accident site, in the 'serious icing at glide power' range. Neither occupant was able to remember any details surrounding the flight or accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/1998
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MORRISVILLE
Event State VERMONT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12962
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PERRAS FIELD AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VT44
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 820
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 954 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID MVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 732
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
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) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1701
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 6 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26712
NTSB Number NYC98LA182
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 J3L-65
Aircraft Series Identifier J3L-65
Aircraft Serial Number 4129
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 22 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 2020
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD W. SCOTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 5181
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05402
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WHITCOMB AVIATION INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR#2 BOX 6530
Operator City MORRISVILLE
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05661
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MVL
Departure City
Departure State VT
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code VT44
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --