Accident Overview
On June 14, 2015, at approximately 0930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N43078, impacted trees and terrain shortly after taking off from runway 02 at Hampton Airfield (7B3), Hampton, New Hampshire. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and a postcrash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the planned flight to Biddeford Airport (B19), Biddeford, Maine.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, earlier that morning he had fueled the airplane at B19 and performed a full run-up and normal takeoff for the flight to 7B3. The takeoff, all systems, and flight characteristics appeared normal. After landing at 7B3, he taxied to the ramp and shut down the engine. He did not refuel. A short time later, he and his passenger taxied to runway 02, where he performed another engine run-up with no anomalies. The takeoff and all systems, including airspeed, appeared normal. The airplane lifted off at 65 knots but would not climb. He asked the passenger to read the emergency checklist and verified that the mixture was rich, the throttle was full, the fuel selector was on the fullest tank, the fuel pump was on, and the carburetor heat was off. He attempted to keep the airplane level but raised the nose at the last minute as they approached a tree line. The airplane cleared the initial tree line but subsequently descended into the wooded area.
Witness Accounts
One witness observed the airplane lift off with a high angle of attack, describing it as "mushing through the air" after takeoff. During initial climb, the pitch attitude decreased briefly, then increased before reaching the tree line. After clearing the trees, the nose lowered and the airplane went out of sight. This witness did not hear a loss of engine power at any time. Another witness stated that when the airplane lifted off, its nose was "too vertical" and thought it would not climb above the trees; however, it cleared them and was "nearly vertical" when it began to lose altitude.
Surveillance Video
Review of airport surveillance video confirmed that the airplane lifted off and remained in a nose-up attitude.
Wreckage Examination
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the scene. The airplane impacted a wooded area about 2,000 feet from the departure end of the runway, slightly right of the extended runway centerline. The fuselage came to rest upright in a nose-down attitude with the engine and nose section embedded in soil. Both wings were separated from the fuselage.
Engine and Component Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted by an FAA inspector and a representative from the engine manufacturer. One propeller blade exhibited chordwise scratching and leading-edge gouging. When the engine crankshaft was rotated by hand, continuity was confirmed on all cylinders, valves, and accessory gears. Thumb compression and suction were verified on each cylinder. Spark plugs showed little or no wear and were light gray/black/oily in color. The carburetor bowl was free of debris.
Flight Control System
Control cable continuity was established from each aileron through fractures consistent with tensile overload to the cockpit area. The stabilator and rudder were removed during salvage operations, and their control cables were cut by recovery personnel; however, cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to those surfaces. Examination of the stabilator trim indicator in the cockpit revealed the trim was in the full nose-up position. The stabilator trim jackscrew showed 16 exposed threads, equating to a full nose-up position. A review of a takeoff checklist from a make and model pilot operating manual stated: "Trim tab – set."