Piper PA-30 accident near Highgate, Vermont, June 23, 1997
On June 23, 1997 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8321Y, was destroyed in an accident near Highgate, Vermont (Franklin County State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to secure the cargo. A factor was the pilot's failure to perform weight and balance calculations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1997 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Highgate, Vermont · Franklin County State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8321Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1461
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot loaded 100 unsecured paper bundles in the airplane that had a useful load of 1,100 pounds. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane rotated normally, then pitched up excessively. The pilot reduced power and lowered the nose to prevent a stall. He then performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot stated that he was unaware of the cargo invoice that listed the cargo weight to be 1,800 pounds. The cargo was weighed post accident, and was determined to be 1,450 pounds. The airplane had a useful load of 1,100 pounds. The pilot did not report that he secured the newspaper inserts after he loaded them, and there was no evidence during the postcrash examination that they were secured.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FSO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 4V8 West Dover VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:06 pm from BTV, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.