STOWE, VT, USA
N6911C
PIPER PA-28-161
DURING CLIMB OUT FROM THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ABOUT 6.6 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT AN ELEVATION OF 3400 FEET. ELEVATION OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WAS 732 FEET. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS OVER A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT ITS LOWEST POINT. ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH AT BARRE/MONTPELIER, VT, THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEG AT 6 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME CLOSE TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE CROSSED OVER THE TOP OF THE RIDGE, THE AIRPLANE'S UNDERCARRIAGE STRUCK TREE TOPS. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED RIGHT AND NOSED DOWN, COMING TO REST ON THE GROUND. A POST-IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED MUCH OF THE AIRPLANE. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD, AND THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS WERE 'TOPPED OFF' BEFORE THE FLIGHT. ALSO, A LENTICULAR CLOUD WAS REPORTED OVER THE AREA. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE REPORTED POWER LOSS.
On Monday, September 6, 1993, at 1445 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N6911C, operated by Prontoaire Inc., of Danbury, Connecticut, and piloted by William Rosvally of Goldens Bridge, New York, collided with trees during climb out from the Morrisville-Stowe State airport, located in Morrisville, Vermont. Of the four persons on board, the pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The other two passengers were not injured. The airplane was destroyed by a post impact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The cross country flight originated from the Morisville-Stowe State airport at about 1440 and was destined for the Danbury Airport located in Danbury, Connecticut. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that during initial climb from the airport, he "...allowed room for climb to gain altitude then took up a heading to clear a low spot in the ridge of the Worchester Mountains near the zero-degree radial of the Montpelier VOR." The pilot stated that as the airplane was getting close to the mountain ridge, the engine began "...running rough." The pilot stated, "I cross checked the gages, noted a partial loss of power and little or no climb. Almost immediately the stall warning went off. I cross checked gages again, noted decrease in speed and loss of altitude, put in one (1) notch of flaps and attempted to make the best angle of climb I could." The pilot stated that as the airplane went over the top of the ridge, the airplane's undercarriage struck tree tops. The pilot stated, "The aircraft rolled right and nosed down. We struck the mountain just over the ridge." The pilot reported that after the airplane came to rest, a fire consumed the airplane, except for one wing. During an interview with the operator of the airplane after the accident, the owner stated that the pilot called her and reported the accident. She said that the pilot first reported that he encountered a "lenticular" and that the "...airplane was not developing proper lift and the engine was gurgling." The owner also stated that the airplane had been "topped-off" prior to the airplane departing the Morrisville-Stowe State airport. Post accident examination of the accident site and airplane revealed the airplane impacted Hogback Mountain about 6.6 nautical miles south of the Morrisville-Stowe State airport, at an elevation of 3,400 feet mean sea level. The airplane hit trees and came to rest on the ground. The airframe and engine were damaged by fire. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at 44 degrees 26.1 minutes North latitude and 72 degrees 6 minutes West longitude. The elevation of the Morrisville-Stowe State airport is 732 feet mean sea level.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A RELATED FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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