N4898T

On Saturday, September 11, 1993, at 1310 eastern daylight time, N4898T, a Piper PA-28-180, owned and operated by Arthur Allen of Byfield, Massachusetts, collided with trees during a power-off forced landing at a private airstrip in Byfield, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Lawrence, Massachusetts.

According to the pilot, he was taking off from a private airstrip when the engine lost power. He reported that the pretakeoff checks and run-up were completed successfully. He stated that he used 2 notches of flaps and the airplane was accelerated to climb speed of 80 knots. He reported that about 250 feet above the ground, the rpm dropped from full rpm to idle power. He tried to restart the engine, but he was unsuccessful. The right wing struck the chimney of a house and came to rest in the trees.

There were several witnesses who reported hearing the airplane's engine sound intermittently during the initial climb. The airplane was examined by the FAA and the investigation revealed that the left and right fuel tanks contained 25 gallons and 5 gallons respectively. The fuel selector was found selected to the left tank.