Brandywine Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380
Wednesday, April 13, 1983 15:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, SOME OSCILLATION IN THE CONTROLS FOR THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING WAS NOTED. AT ABOUT 45 KTS, HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON THE NOSEWHEEL AS HE HAD DONE IN THE PAST. HE REPORTED THAT SINCE HE WAS ONLY 65 INCHES TALL, HIS FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED AFTER BACK PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. AT ROTATION SPEED, HE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AHEAD. HE TRIED TO LIFT OFF & CLEAR OVER THE EQUIPMENT, BUT ABOUT 1 SECOND AFTER ROTATING, HE HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOSE GEAR LOCKING IN PLACE. HE CONTINUED THE CLIMB & WAS ADVISED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD STRUCK THE EQUIPMENT. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT & LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A PIECE OF DITCH DIGGING EQUIPMENT THAT HAD BEEN PARKED APRX 8 FT FROM THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RWY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WEST CHESTER
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19380
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BRANDYWINE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N99
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 475
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 227
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20387
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2943F
NTSB Number NYC83LA094
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 PA-28RT-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28RT-20
Aircraft Serial Number 24R918232
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 984
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name QUEEN CITY AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City ALLENTOWN
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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 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 N99
Departure City WEST CHESTER
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1N9
Destination City ALLENTOWN
Destination State PA
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 3010
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --