Piper PA-28-151 accident near Hampton, New Hampshire, April 20, 2005
On April 20, 2005 at about 4:47 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N8251F, was destroyed in an accident near Hampton, New Hampshire (Hampton Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to depart with a tailwind, and his failure to perform preflight performance calculations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2005 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, New Hampshire · Hampton Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N8251F · registry record · serial 28-7715256
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure, the pilot did not perform any preflight performance calculations. Following a run-up check of the engine, he configured the airplane for a short field takeoff, accelerated airplane in a turn onto the turf runway, and proceeded to take off. Once the airplane left the ground, the pilot knew that there was a problem, but was not sure if he could land the airplane with the amount of runway remaining. The airplane subsequently impacted trees during the climb out. During the takeoff, the pilot felt that the engine "was not running at full power," but could not recall any indications of the engine power instruments, nor did he hear any abnormal engine sounds. A witness observed the airplane during the takeoff, and became concerned after seeing the runway distance the airplane had covered, compared to the altitude it had achieved. The witness also noticed the airplane was taking off with a tailwind, with the windsock pointed "down the runway." He described the engine sound as "pulling pretty hard and doing what it was supposed to." A post accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any pre-impact malfunction or failure. Calculation of the takeoff distance, that given the conditions on the day of the accident, and if the airplane were loaded to its maximum gross weight, departing from a paved runway, 2,700 feet was required to clear a 50-foot barrier. The runway was 2,100 feet long, and 60-foot trees were located 450 feet from the departure end.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 384 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,111 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 13.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7B3 Hampton NH at 4:47 pm
- Destination: SFZ Pawtucket RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,100 ft by 170 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from PSM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.