Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Hackettstown, New Jersey, August 2, 1998
On August 2, 1998 at about 6:14 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N305RC, was destroyed in an accident near Hackettstown, New Jersey (Hackettstown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to use the airplane's takeoff performance data, and his failure to obtain the proper climb airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1998 · about 6:14 pm local time
- Place
- Hackettstown, New Jersey · Hackettstown Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N305RC · registry record · serial 28R-8018089
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed at the airport with a passenger, and picked up two additional passengers. The pilot estimated the airplane's takeoff weight to be 2,710 pounds. The pilot taxied onto Runway 23, released the brakes at 1,500 to 1,700 RPM, and rotated the airplane at 61 to 62 knots IAS. After rotation, about 30 feet above the ground, the pilot felt the airplane would not clear the trees at the departure end of the runway. The stall horn sounded, and he elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down left of the runway and entered a line of trees. According to performance charts, a ground run of about 1,700 feet and a clear distance of approximately 2,200 feet was required to clear a 50 foot obstacle. The calculations were based on obtaining 2,700 RPM before brake release, and rotating the airplane at approximately 70 knots IAS.
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: 136 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,785 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 1998; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N05
- Destination: MSV Monticello NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from ABE, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.