Seven Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
Saturday, August 11, 1984 13:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER REFUELING, THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM A 3000 FT RWY LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER A NORMAL ROTATION & LIFT-OFF, HE ESTABLISHED A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING GEAR RETRACTION, THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THIS OCCURRED WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED EITHER A STRONG DOWNDRAFT OR A WINDSHEAR CONDITION. TREES BECAME VISIBLE & THE PLT INCREASED THE PITCH ATTITUDE, BUT THE ACFT STRUCK THE TREETOPS. THE ACFT CONTINUED FLYING & WAS SAFELY LANDED AT ANOTHER ARPT, BUT THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS, THE RIGHT WING TIP, THE LEFT FLAP & THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED. THE PLT SAID THE ARPT WAS LOCATED ON A MOUNTAIN TOP WHICH WAS SURROUNDED BY HIGHER MOUNTAINS. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 4500 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/1984
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SEVEN SPRINGS
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SEVEN SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
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) --
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2381
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26311
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9202Y
NTSB Number NYC84LA268
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 8414004
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 430
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRIVATE AIRWAYS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 100 W. TENTH STREET
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19801
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 Yes - certificate holder
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ACY
Destination City ATLANTIC CITY
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 42
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --