SHELBURNE, VT, USA
N8433C
PIPER PA-28-151
THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM A 2500 FT GRASS STRIP WITH 3 ADULTS ON BOARD. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AND ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, THEN ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, IT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE SURFACE. THE WITNESSES SAID THAT AS THE AIRPLANE GOT NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, IT LIFTED OFF AGAIN AND STARTED A SLOW CLIMB. THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT SAID, '. . . WE TOOK OFF BUT THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED VERY SLOWLY AND NEVER REALLY CLIMBED OUT VERY HIGH . . . WE WERE IN A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN WHEN WE HIT THE TREES . . .' THE WINDS WERE LIGHT, BUT THE PASSENGER SAID, '. . . THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND WAS WITH OUR DIRECTION OF FLIGHT . . .' ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH AT BURLINGTON, VT, THE WIND WAS FROM 280 DEG AT 6 KTS. PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOWED THAT (FOR PAVED RUNWAY), 2600 FT WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE.
PREMATURE LIFT-OFF BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBSEQUENT STALL/MUSH AND COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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