Grand Canyon St. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901
Sunday, August 14, 1988 17:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A SECOND ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF, THE FIRST BEING ABORTED, THE AIRCRAFT FLEW OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY IN GROUND EFFECT INTO TALL GRASS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT AND THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF IN AN OVER GROSSED AIARCRAFT IN HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND FLEW OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO HIGH GRASS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WELLSBORO
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16901
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND CANYON ST.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N38
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 1899
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) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2503
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39786
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N979LA
NTSB Number NYC88LA217
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32RT-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32RT-30
Aircraft Serial Number 32R798072
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 Jul 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2268
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TRAINING
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LAVERNE M. GOODREAU
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROE ROAD
Operator City GREENVILLE
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29611
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 No
Departure Airport Code N38
Departure City WELLSBORO
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 7A1
Destination City GREENVILLE
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 27
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 72
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --