Piper PA-28-151 accident near Shelburne, Vermont, May 25, 1991
On May 25, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N8433C, was destroyed in an accident near Shelburne, Vermont (Shelburne Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PREMATURE LIFT-OFF BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBSEQUENT STALL/MUSH AND COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Shelburne, Vermont · Shelburne Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N8433C · no longer on the register · serial 7615108
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM A 2500 FT GRASS STRIP WITH 3 ADULTS ON BOARD. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AND ONE OF THE PASSENGERS, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, THEN ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, IT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE SURFACE. THE WITNESSES SAID THAT AS THE AIRPLANE GOT NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, IT LIFTED OFF AGAIN AND STARTED A SLOW CLIMB. THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT SAID, '. . . WE TOOK OFF BUT THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED VERY SLOWLY AND NEVER REALLY CLIMBED OUT VERY HIGH . . . WE WERE IN A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN WHEN WE HIT THE TREES . . .' THE WINDS WERE LIGHT, BUT THE PASSENGER SAID, '. . . THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND WAS WITH OUR DIRECTION OF FLIGHT . . .' ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH AT BURLINGTON, VT, THE WIND WAS FROM 280 DEG AT 6 KTS. PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOWED THAT (FOR PAVED RUNWAY), 2600 FT WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE.
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
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,500 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from BTV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.