Jaffery Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jaffrey, New Hampshire 03452
Wednesday, July 7, 2004 17:18 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot observed that the airplane was not climbing, and the rpm gauge needle was dropping. Realizing there was not a suitable area ahead to land, the pilot elected to return to the runway. During the turn back to the runway, the airplane descended into trees. Witnesses observed the airplane arrived at the airport about 20 minutes prior to the accident. Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any abnormalities. The temperature and dew point recorded at the airport, about the time of the accident were 80 and 52 degrees respectively. A review of a FAA carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious at glide power" area of the chart.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/7/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1718
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Jaffrey
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03452
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424831N
Event Location Longitude 0720018W
Event Location Airport Jaffery Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AFN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 1040
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID AFN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1040
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17625
NTSB Notification Source NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2005 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, ME

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2489M
NTSB Number NYC04LA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1977-15
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 2093
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael C. Meagher
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Poertland
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04101
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 AFN
Departure City Jaffrey
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1714
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 134
Runway Width 2982
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --