What happened
On September 8, 2024, at approximately 12:25 EDT, a Piper PA28R-180, registration N3757T, crashed near Vergennes, Vermont. The aircraft was being operated as a Part 91 instructional flight. The flight crew, consisting of a student pilot and a flight instructor, along with two passengers, were 4 fatal.
The aircraft had departed Windham Airport (IJD) in Willimantic, Connecticut, earlier that morning, bound for Basin Harbor Airport (B06). ADS-B data indicated the aircraft was positioned approximately 1,000 feet north of the approach end of runway 20 at B06 at 10:16, at an altitude of 250 feet MSL.
Witness video recorded the aircraft beginning its takeoff roll from runway 20 at B06 at approximately 12:24. The aircraft impacted terrain in a wooded area roughly 375 feet east of the departure end of runway 20. The initial impact point was a ground scar containing part of the left wingtip, and the aircraft came to rest about 30 feet from that point. There was no evidence of fire at the scene.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the following:
- The left wing had separated from the fuselage and was found inverted near the wreckage.
- The right wing remained attached but sustained damage to its leading edge.
- The fuselage sustained significant damage, particularly to the engine compartment, instrument panel, and forward cabin area.
- The empennage remained relatively intact and attached to the fuselage.
- Flight control cables were continuous, except for the left aileron direct cable and the aileron balance cable, which showed signs of tensile overload.
- The flaps were retracted, the main landing gear was extended, and the nose landing gear was found in the retracted position due to impact damage.
- The fuel selector valve was in the "LEFT" position and was unobstructed. The left main fuel tank was empty, though blue staining was present around the filler cap and rivet line. A breach was found in the fuel line between the left tank and the selector valve, consistent with impact.
- The right fuel tank contained approximately 1.5 gallons of 100LL fuel, which showed no signs of contamination or water.