Piper PA-34-220T accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1997
On October 24, 1997 at about 7:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N8371H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Northeast Philadelphia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to check the elevator trim prior to takeoff, and his failure to retard the power in a timely manner after touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1997 · about 7:51 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Northeast Philadelphia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8371H · no longer on the register · serial 34-8133060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the takeoff run, it was difficult to pitch the nose up for takeoff. The airplane became airborne and descended back onto the runway. The airplane porpoised on the runway several times before the nose and right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the flight was the first since the annual inspection. Although he checked flight control freedom before takeoff, he did not check the elevator trim position. After the accident, he realized the trim was in the full nose-down position. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not immediately retard the power after the airplane returned to the runway and began to porpoise.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,344 hours in all; 228 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,159 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 1997; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNE at 7:50 pm
- Destination: LNS Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from PNE
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.
Other NTSB records under N8371H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.