On June 23, 1997, a Piper PA-30 (registration N8321Y) operated by Robert North Iii was involved in an aviation accident near Highgate, VT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to secure the cargo. A factor was the pilot's failure to perform weight and balance calculations. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot loaded 100 unsecured paper bundles weighing 1,450 pounds into an airplane with a useful load of 1,100 pounds. During initial climb, the airplane pitched up excessively; the pilot reduced power and performed a forced landing into trees. No mechanical malfunctions were found.
Accident Sequence
The pilot loaded 100 unsecured paper bundles into the airplane. The aircraft had a useful load of 1,100 pounds. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane rotated normally but then experienced an excessive pitch-up. The pilot reduced engine power and lowered the nose to avoid a stall. Subsequently, he performed a forced landing into trees.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions, and the pilot did not report any mechanical issues. The pilot stated that he was unaware of the cargo invoice, which listed the cargo weight as 1,800 pounds. Post-accident weighing determined the cargo weighed 1,450 pounds. The airplane's useful load was 1,100 pounds. The pilot did not report that he secured the newspaper inserts after loading, and post-crash examination found no evidence that they were secured.