On February 7, 1991, a Piper PA-23-250 (registration N6247Y) operated by Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Liberty, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE-OF-CLIMB AFTER LIFT-OFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LOW CEILING, FOG, AND THE PILOT'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN A PIPER PA-23. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Piper PA-23 impacted trees 1,560 feet from the runway after a night takeoff in fog. Witnesses reported engines sounding normal. Visibility was 0.5 miles with patchy ground fog.
Accident Details
Shortly after a night takeoff in foggy conditions, the airplane collided with trees located 1,560 feet from the departure end of the runway. According to witnesses, the engines sounded normal and were operating in sync. The landing gear was found in the retracted position. Meteorological conditions included an estimated visibility of half a mile with patchy ground fog.
Pilot Information
The pilot's logbook recorded three flights in a Piper PA-23 during the year 1990, totaling 5.5 hours of flight time. The last of these flights occurred in June 1990. However, three days before the accident, the pilot conducted a one-hour familiarization flight in the same airplane.
Aircraft Description
The accident aircraft was a Piper PA-23. No further details about the specific aircraft or its registration were provided in the investigation source.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 7 Feb 1991 Piper PA-23-250 accident near Liberty, NC?
A Piper PA-23 impacted trees 1,560 feet from the runway after a night takeoff in fog. Witnesses reported engines sounding normal. Visibility was 0.5 miles with patchy ground fog.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 7 Feb 1991 involved a Piper PA-23-250, registration N6247Y, operated by Shamrock Gravure Products, Inc, at Liberty, NC.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE-OF-CLIMB AFTER LIFT-OFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LOW CEILING, FOG, AND THE PILOT'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN A PIPER PA-23.
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