Piper PA-23-250 accident near Fargo, GA
On May 7, 1998, a Piper PA-23-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fargo, GA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 7, 1998
- Place
- Fargo, GA
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.680°N, 82.559°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10147
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 7, 1998, about 1840 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N4BN, registered to a private owner, crashed during takeoff, near Fargo, Georgia, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the private-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time, and was en route to Crystal River, Florida. Witnesses observed the airplane start the takeoff roll on a heading of 150 degrees, on a grass runway 2,200 feet long, and 200 feet wide. About 800 feet from the start of the takeoff roll the airplane became airborne about 8 feet off the ground, then went nose and left wing low into the runway where the left propeller struck the grass surface. Twenty propeller slash marks were found in the grass surface at the point in the runway were the witnesses saw the propeller strike the ground. The airplane then took off, climbed about 50 feet above the ground, turned left, struck trees, impacted the ground and caught fire. According to a witness, who reported he had some aviation background, the airplane taxied to the takeoff point and the pilot did an engine run up. At this point the witness said, "...[the] aircraft's engine seemed to sputter (one), he took off from the [north] end. The aircraft took off but didn't seem to climb. The aircraft settled back down, propeller started hitting [the] ground, then aircraft got airborne again, made it over oak tree (note cross wind from pilot's right side). Struck pine tree and [I] saw
Probable cause
the left engine propeller blades struck the runway surface during takeoff, resulting in the pilot losing control of the airplane, and subsequently impacting with trees.
More accidents in GA
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Apr 5, 1991
- Cessna 208, Sep 29, 1985
- Beech 400, Dec 11, 1991
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Aug 21, 1995
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Apr 20, 1982
Browse: Georgia · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
