Piper PA28 accident near Middlebury, VT
On December 23, 2016, a Piper PA28 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Middlebury, VT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 23, 2016
- Place
- Middlebury, VT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 43.981°N, 73.094°W
- NTSB ID
- 20161223X22808
Official records · ERA17FA072
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 23, 2016, about 1145 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161 airplane, N31202, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering after takeoff from Middlebury State Airport (6B0), Middlebury, Vermont. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to PC Air Ventures Ltd and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that was originating when the accident occurred. According to a witness at the airport, the airplane was based at 6B0 and had not been flown during the past 2 months. The witness reported that the pilot arrived at the airport about 0815, cleared snow from the airplane's wings, put a battery charger on the battery, and plugged in the engine heater. The pilot then performed a preflight inspection and drained fuel samples from the fuel tanks. About 1135, the pilot taxied the airplane to runway 19 and departed. During the initial climb, about 150 ft above ground level, the airplane's wings "wagged." The airplane climbed about another 150 ft, and the engine "skipped" and then "went back to normal." The airplane continued to climb, made a slight right turn, and then entered a left turn. When the bank angle was about 45°, the airplane "stalled" and "rapidly" descended until it struck trees. Another witness, who was at a business about 500 ft south of the departure end of runway 19, heard an engine "sputtering" and looked up and saw the airpla
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to return to the airport following a partial or complete loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
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Browse: Vermont · 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.
