Rangley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rangeley, Maine 04970
Sunday, September 8, 1991 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT INITIATED A TAKEOFF ON A 3 MILES LONG LAKE WITH 2/3S OF IT BEHIND HIM. ONCE AIRBORNE, HE WAS UNABLE TO OUTCLIMB THE TERRAIN AND STRUCK TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER TAKEOFF PLANNING BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES DURING INITIAL CLIMB. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION NOT TO USE THE FULL LAKE SURFACE AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City RANGELEY
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04970
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RANGLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 88B
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 1518
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2200
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45089
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N95123
NTSB Number NYC91LA231
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 TAYLORCRAFT
Aircraft Model BC/2D
Aircraft Series Identifier BC/2D
Aircraft Serial Number 9523
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Aug 2 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 939
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE S COY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 52 PORTERS POINT RD
Aircraft Owner City COLCHESTER
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05446
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEORGE S COY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 52 PORTERS POINT RD
Operator City COLCHESTER
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05446
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City COLCHESTER
Destination State VT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 15000
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --