NTSB Identification: ERA12CA377
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, May 31, 2012 in Lawrence, MA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/26/2012
Aircraft: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-1B, registration: N1608R
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
After flying for about 40 minutes without incident, the pilot returned to the departure airport to practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot stated that she landed on the 3,900-foot-long runway as she normally did for a full-stop landing. She retracted the flaps, adjusted the trim, and advanced the throttle. As the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot became concerned that it was too far down the runway and too close to the ground to clear trees that were located beyond the departure end of the runway. She elected to abort the takeoff and was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through grass, down an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident. She further stated that she may have taken too much time to transition the airplane for takeoff after landing and also thought that if she had committed to the takeoff, the airplane would have adequately cleared the trees.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
NTSB Identification: ERA12CA377
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, May 31, 2012 in Lawrence, MA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/26/2012
Aircraft: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-1B, registration: N1608R
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
After flying for about 40 minutes without incident, the pilot returned to the departure airport to practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot stated that she landed on the 3,900-foot-long runway as she normally did for a full-stop landing. She retracted the flaps, adjusted the trim, and advanced the throttle. As the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot became concerned that it was too far down the runway and too close to the ground to clear trees that were located beyond the departure end of the runway. She elected to abort the takeoff and was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through grass, down an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident. She further stated that she may have taken too much time to transition the airplane for takeoff after landing and also thought that if she had committed to the takeoff, the airplane would have adequately cleared the trees.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
After flying for about 40 minutes without incident, the pilot returned to the departure airport to practice touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. The pilot stated that she landed on the 3,900-foot-long runway, as she normally did for a full-stop landing. She retracted the flaps, adjusted the trim, and advanced the throttle. As the airplane lifted off the ground, she became concerned that it was too far down the runway, and too low above the ground, to clear trees that were located beyond the departure end of the runway. She elected to abort the takeoff, and was not able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway, rolled through grass, down an embankment, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its empennage. The pilot reported that she did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident. She further stated in retrospect, that she may taken too much time to transition the airplane for takeoff after landing, and also felt that if she had committed to the takeoff, the airplane would have adequately cleared the trees.
Courtesy of Massachusetts State Police
Police and firefighters examine an overturned plane in the grass at Lawrence Airport. The pilot, 48-year-old Rebecca Harvey escaped without serious injury, according to police
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (WHDH) -- A plane missed the runway and flipped on
its back in North Andover on Thursday. The pilot escaped unharmed.
Sky7 HD was over the underbelly of the small plane that flipped on its back around 6:30 Thursday evening. It was feet from the runway when pilot was trying to land. But when crews were called out, the cockpit was empty.
“We were concerned for the pilot, obviously,” said Michael Miller, Airport Manager.
The experienced pilot, a woman from Acton, is believed to have made her way out through a narrow window.
"The pilot actually walked away from the crash and informed the control tower that the accident did happen. So I was actually somewhat relieved when I found that out," Miller said.
Witnesses say the pilot walked hundreds of feet from the wreckage to the air traffic control tower and later declined medical treatment.
Miller was forced to shut down the airport.
“We closed the airport for safety purposes. There were too many emergency personnel vehicles on the airfield and wanted to make sure everyone was safe, including the pilots as well as the ground personnel,” Miller said.
Those familiar with runway 32 at Lawrence Municipal Airport don't know what would have caused the crash in perfect flying conditions.
“Anytime you’re flying in a private airplane you have to be careful of that. But like I said, there’s no wind tonight it’s really hard to speculate what could have happened,” said Kelly Bradbury.
The NTSB and FAA are hoping to get some answers too, and tow the wreckage away for a thorough investigation.
The airport’s manager told 7News the pilot’s plane is based at the Lawrence airport. She did speak with investigators after the crash.
Sky7 HD was over the underbelly of the small plane that flipped on its back around 6:30 Thursday evening. It was feet from the runway when pilot was trying to land. But when crews were called out, the cockpit was empty.
“We were concerned for the pilot, obviously,” said Michael Miller, Airport Manager.
The experienced pilot, a woman from Acton, is believed to have made her way out through a narrow window.
"The pilot actually walked away from the crash and informed the control tower that the accident did happen. So I was actually somewhat relieved when I found that out," Miller said.
Witnesses say the pilot walked hundreds of feet from the wreckage to the air traffic control tower and later declined medical treatment.
Miller was forced to shut down the airport.
“We closed the airport for safety purposes. There were too many emergency personnel vehicles on the airfield and wanted to make sure everyone was safe, including the pilots as well as the ground personnel,” Miller said.
Those familiar with runway 32 at Lawrence Municipal Airport don't know what would have caused the crash in perfect flying conditions.
“Anytime you’re flying in a private airplane you have to be careful of that. But like I said, there’s no wind tonight it’s really hard to speculate what could have happened,” said Kelly Bradbury.
The NTSB and FAA are hoping to get some answers too, and tow the wreckage away for a thorough investigation.
The airport’s manager told 7News the pilot’s plane is based at the Lawrence airport. She did speak with investigators after the crash.
