Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Scotia, NY
On June 14, 2009, a Piper PA-28R-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Scotia, NY. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 14, 2009
- Place
- Scotia, NY
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 42.875°N, 74.031°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090614X72852
Official records · ERA09FA345
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 14, 2009, at 1421 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N3226R, registered to and operated by Kolath Airlines LLC, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, was substantially damaged when it collided with the Mohawk River after departing from runway 33 at Mohawk Valley Airport (K13), Scotia, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The certificated flight instructor (CFI), student pilot, and one passenger were killed. A pilot, who was waiting for the accident airplane to depart stated, “He started a normal takeoff and tried to get the aircraft into the air. It appeared to me at this time he did not have enough speed to get the aircraft flying. He got off the ground a couple of feet and then came back down on the wheels. He continued and tried again, but was more aggressive striking the tail on the ground. Again the aircraft stayed in the air a little longer but came back down again. He continued to roll further, pulling the airplane into the air for the third time. By now he was further down the runway, this time staying in the air, clearing the brush at the end of the runway. He had the nose a little high this time. The whole airplane then begins to settle down into the river.” Another witness stated he was going to take up some skydivers. They had watched the pilot make two approaches and decided to pay attention to the takeoff. “As he did his takeoff roll he kind of ran out of runway. He lifted off barely above the weeds at the end of the runway and began to sink in the
Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to ensure that the airplane was properly configured for a short field takeoff, and his decision to not abort the takeoff.
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Browse: New York · 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.
