Primary finding
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane had departed runway 11, and at an approximate altitude of 30 feet above the ground, the pilot aborted the takeoff, and the airplane impacted to the right side of the runway, in wet grass and mud. According to the pilot, he rotated the airplane, '...at 60 knots-engine missed, stall horn sounded....' he lowered the nose to gain speed, and aborted the takeoff with less than 1000 feet of runway remaining. The airplane impacted, 'nose down and left wing down...[and] skidded around [the] left wing.' examination of the engine revealed no discrepancies.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1994, at 1455 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N8453B, registered and piloted by William Krummel, sustained substantial damage just after takeoff, at the Sikorsky Airport, Bridgeport, Connecticut. The pilot and the 3 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane had departed runway 11, and at an approximate altitude of 30 feet above the ground, the pilot aborted the takeoff, and impacted on the right side of the runway, in wet grass, and mud. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he rotated the airplane, "...at 60 knots-engine missed, stall horn sounded during initial climb." According to the pilot's statement, he lowered the nose to gain speed, and: At around 30 feet above [the] runway decided to land. Engine continued to miss. Less than 1000' of runway left with hill, fence, and road at end of runway. Decided to land in grass and wetlands...grass was muddy and helped absorb impact...landing was nose down and left wing down, plane skidded around left wing. The FAA examined the engine after the accident, and no discrepancies were found. -