Katama Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539
Sunday, January 5, 1992 14:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ROTATED THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF BETWEEN 50 AND 55 KNOTS. HE NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT AND NOT CLIMBING VERY WELL. HE SAID HE LOOKED OUT OF THE SIDE WINDOW AND SAW THAT HE WAS GOING TO HIT SOME TREES, SO HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE LEFT AND PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ROSE APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET IN ALTITUDE AND THEN STALLED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SHED SHEARING OFF A WING AND THEN HIT A FUEL PUMP SHERING OFF THE OTHER WING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE AND THE AIRPLANE WAS FULLY FUELED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 320 DEGREES AT 25 KNOTS AND THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE WAS 3,570 LBS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND, THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/5/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City EDGARTOWN
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02539
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 3
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2263
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 17 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38781
NTSB Number BFO92LA021
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-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R 7780472
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 8 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 1735
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY MEAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7 TWIN PONDS COURT
Aircraft Owner City NEW FAIRFIELD
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06812
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GARY MEAD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7 TWIN PONDS COURT
Operator City NEW FAIRFIELD
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06812
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 1415
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DXR
Destination City DANBURY
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 35
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --